Dungeon Hunter
Chapter 69's

Baritone Desert

Kang Oh comes to Holiseum. 

Once he got there, he headed to the underground arena and was greeted by a friendly face.

"Oh, who do we have here?"

Kang Oh raised his hand.

As soon as he recognized her, the handsome young man's face wrinkled.

Being 'like Darion' is still a popular buzzword on the Arth community site, Arthtory.

That's Darion, the ancestor of that keyword! He's right in front of his eyes.

Kang Oh approached Darion and patted her shoulder.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"... It's been a long time," Darion let go of Kang Oh's hand and said.

"It seems you've become much stronger."

Kang Oh checked it from top to bottom. He certainly looks different.

It seemed like he had more muscles than before, and his equipment was also better.

"I'm not lazing around" said Darion rudely.

"It's been a long time, so why don't we duel for a request?" Kang Oh teased as he patted Darion's chest with his fist.

Darion's skin changed immediately.

He suddenly recalled a flashback to his defeat of Kang Oh, as well as his next slave contract, all the abuse he had to endure, and how he was treated like a dog.

"I'm a little busy right now."

He could not be caught in the palm of this demon anymore.

Darion quickly attempts to escape, but Kang Oh catches up with her.

"Darion."

"What's that?"

"I need mercenaries that can be used. Want to work for me again?"

Kang Oh smiled mischievously.

"Absolutely not."

"Hm. Then I should ask Burkan to let me borrow you ..."

Before he could even finish, Darion grabbed Kang Oh's hand.

"Please don't!"

Kang Oh could hear his despair.

“It's been a long time since we last met, so at least pretend it's good to see me. Stop being rude,” said Kang Oh with a serious look.

"I understand."

Darion forced himself to smile.

"Do your best."

Kang Oh gripped Darion's shoulder with his hand.

"Yes sir!" Darion answered.

"Good, so what's your level?" Kang Oh asked.

"I measured my level at the temple and came out to level 95."

There are several different gods in Arth, each with a temple dedicated to their worship.

One of the functions of this temple was to measure NPC levels.

"95 only?"

In the past, Darion was not very useful, but now, she looked less useful than before.

It was obvious that he had just slowed it down.

"What do you mean 'just'? Master Burkan praised my rapid growth," Darion said.

"Well, whatever. Where's Burkan?" Kang Oh asked.

"Just go straight down the hall until you find a striped door. He's gonna go through that door."

"Bring me to her."

"Excuse me?"

"I said take me to him."

"I?" daron replied, because he couldn't say no.

"If you don't want to then it's okay. I'll just ask Burkan to let me borrow you."

"Obviously. I'll take you to see him. Please follow me."

Darion's attitude changed immediately. He picked up the points and started moving.

"Punk's."

Kang Oh clasped his hands behind his back like a noble and followed Darion in a haughty gait.

* * *

"He's inside."

Darion pointed to the door.

"Go."

Kang Oh gestured for her to leave.

"Yes. Then please continue your business."

As soon as he finished, Darion quickly disappeared deep into the passageway.

Tap, tap.

As soon as he knocked, Kang Oh could hear Burkan's voice from across the door.

"Please come in."

Kang Oh opened the door and went inside.

The inside of the room was simple. There were tables and chairs in the middle of the room, and there were also daily appliances on one side of the room. 

"You coming, Brother?"

Burkan sat in his chair and greeted Kang Oh.

“But you came alone,” he looked behind Kang Oh and said.

Burkan had told him that if he wanted to mine the gemstone adamantium, then he needed to bring an expert miner here.

"I didn't come here for adamantium today."

"Then what did you come for?" ask Burkan.

"That's..."

He described where he was: an uninhabited island, meeting the water tribe, Lupenia, as well as visiting their base, the Lupen Crystal Palace.

Kang Oh also explains how Valan defeated Calamity of the Sea, Gurekturon.

"oh."

Burkan listened to Kang Oh with a curious face.

“I want you to convey Queen Lupenia's message to Mr. Valan: she wants to see him again,” Kang Oh explained.

"I also have no way to contact Master Valan."

Shrug shrugs shoulders.

“Please let him know if he happens to come see you,” said Kang Oh.

"I think I can do that much. All right," agreed Burkan.

He had fulfilled Roane's request, so he had no more business here.

"Be careful with the dark road at night" Burkan waved and told him to leave.

Kang Oh leaves Holiseum.

Grano and Eder were both waiting for him.

"Have you fulfilled Queen Roane's wish?" ask Eder.

"Yes. Now all we need to do is go to the Baritone Desert."

"Then shall we go?" Grano asked.

"Let's go!"

Kang Oh clenched his fists into the air.

They finally headed for the Baritone Desert.

* * *

Under the scorching sun lay an endless stretch of sand dunes.

Kang Oh, Eder, and Grano each rode on a camel that walked slowly across the dunes.

Since the Baritone Desert had no city to speak of, they could not use the Altein gate to move there.

Therefore, Kang Oh's entourage has moved to the town closest to the Baritone Desert and rode camels through the desert.

However, there was a difference between a virtual reality desert and one that existed in real life.

First, monsters appeared in the desert.

A gray lizard emerged from the sand.

"They're Sand Crocodiles" said Baritone Desert native Grano.

Sand Crocodiles originated in the Baritone Desert. As may be implied from the name, they are exactly the same as real-life crocodiles aside from their size; they are smaller than the original crocodiles. 

'I think the Sand Crocodile is around level 100.'

Kang Oh recalled his information about the Sand Crocodile.

"Eder, take care of them."

It was only one level 100 monster. Kang Oh doesn't have to interfere.

They were all in the same party, so he would receive experience regardless of whether he killed the monster or not.

"I understand."

Eder came down from his camel and attacked the crocodile.

"Hahp!"

The gadanya, which was emitting green smoke, hit the crocodile body.

Grano helped Eder. While still riding his camel, he cast a water spell.

His orb glows and shoots a water bullet at the Sand Alligator.

Water Ball!

The Sand Crocodile was unable to hold out for long against the combined attacks of Eder and Grano, and died soon after.

Afterwards, Kang Oh's entourage faces various monsters that come from the Baritone Desert.

They faced a group of Black Scorpions, which were as big as a human arm, as well as Desert Snakes, which were considered good for stamina. Worse, they even faced walking cactus-shaped monsters as well.

Of all the threats, the monster that the party killed the most was Sandurion..

Sandurion, the monster that eats sand!

They are gray earwigs. However, they were larger than 1 meter, and looked much fiercer than ordinary earwig.

Not only do they eat sand, but they tend to be aggressive and attack any living thing they see, which makes them very similar to gangsters.

They were around level 100, but they were hard to beat due to their hard shell and menacing tongs.

However, they were not something that Kang Oh's side needed to worry about.

Kang Oh, Eder, and Grano kill Sandurion (who appears in group of 10) without backup.

Kang Oh kills Sandurion simply, but efficiently using his sword.

Eder would block their tongs with his shield, and after he cursed them, would concentrate on one point on their backs with his blade.

Grano, who used his water magic without a backup, was extremely powerful.

Waterball, Torrent, Water Whirlwind, etc.

With all these water spells unleashed on them, Sandurion had no choice but to fall unconscious and die.

"Hm. It's freaky. Normally, it's hard to see Sandurion in the Baritone Dessert, but we kept meeting them" Grano said.

“Well, completing missions is easier, so there you have it,” said Kang Oh.

Kang Oh has received a mission from the Adventurer Guild to kill 200 Sandurion.

It was easy for him because he did not need to look for them; they would come to him on their own.

At this rate, he would complete the mission in an instant.

"I have to investigate later..." Grano muttering.

"Hoo, how far is Hapdala Oasis?" ask Eder.

They plan to stay in the Baritone Desert for now.

They obviously needed a base of operations, so they chose Grano's hometown, Hapdala Oasis.

"If we pass through that sand dune and then three more after that, then we'll arrive."

Grano pointed towards the sand dune in front of them.

“We would have had a hard time if not for you, Mr. Grano,” said Kang Oh.

There was no sign or path in the desert.

Therefore, Kang Oh admired Grano's ability to easily lead them through the desert.

Grano just smiled back.

Their journey through the desert goes smoothly with the help of Grano, who is the greatest authority in the Baritone Desert.

* * *

Kang Oh's entourage arrives at Hapdala Oasis.

Hapdala Oasis lies between sand dunes like an island in the middle of the ocean.

"It's a lot bigger than I expected."

It was much larger than he had expected with more yurts and people as well.

"Hapdala Oasis was originally quite big and there were quite a few people passing by here as well."

It had been a long time since Grano had returned home so he practically shone.

"Let's find an inn first."

Grano leads Kang Oh's entourage to a yurt.

"Please wait here for a minute."

Grano asks Kang Oh and Eder to wait outside as he enters the yurt.

"Granny Trisha."

Grano beamed at the gray-haired old lady.

"Oh, Grano, is that you?" Trisha greets Grano.

"Yes. Been a long time. Are you all right?"

"Of course!"

Grano and Trisha greet each other, and share the news with each other.

"I came here with the group. Can we use an empty yurt next to yours, Grandma?"

Grano got straight to the point.

"Use as you please."

"Thank you very much. Then let me introduce you to my party."

Grano called Kang Oh and Eder who were waiting outside.

"My name is Kang Oh."

"I'm Eder."

"I'm Trisha. Rest comfortably before you leave."

Kang Oh and Eder greet Trisha and leave her yurt.

Then, they entered the empty yurt beside him.

It was built simply. There is a brazier in the middle and around it unfolds a comfortable carpet, a sitting pillow, and a pillow.

Grano sat cross-legged on one of the pillows.

Kang Oh and Eder found their seats and sat down as well.

"It's empty, but it's well-maintained."

Kang Oh looked around. Overall, it was clean and comfortable.

"His children used it when they came to visit him. That's why he always keeps his clean."

"Then can we stay here from now on?"

Eder stroked his pillow as if this place was to his liking.

"Yes." Yeah."

“Hoo, hoo. Again, I think it's good that we come with you, Mr. Grano,” Kang Oh said.

"Just right!" Eder strongly agreed.

"It's nothing" Grano said.

"What are our plans from now on?" Kang Oh asked.

"This is a plan I've made. I want to test the rain-making device first. Then, we'll conquer the hidden dungeon and after that, we'll find the hidden oasis."

Grano explained the plan he had made before.

"You start with what you believe in."

Kang Oh could see through his intentions. He started with what he believed absolutely.

"You're right."

"I have no problem with your plans. Eder, you didn't either, did you?" 

"Of course not."

"good. Then, as planned, will we go and test the rain-making device?"

Grano's voice shook and his face shone.

"Yes." Yeah."

"Let's go!"

Kang Oh's entourage leaves the yurt.

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