# Player with Maxed-Out Talent, Episode 44

The title was simple:

-Seeking Players for a Short Table Dungeon Run.

In the world of players being formed, it wasn’t strange to see a post looking for party members. I checked the author of the post once again.

[Author: Jajangmyeon Master from Jayang-dong]

The Flame Emperor, Kang Sang-goo, had finally shown himself. I clicked on the post to read more.

-Looking for players to join a Short Table Dungeon run. According to the advice of a middle manager, it is recommended that at least 3 players challenge it together. Let me reiterate, this is a dungeon, not a gate. You are all aware that a dungeon is a higher concept than a gate, right? Looking for people to clear the dungeon with me. Only those over level 20 need apply. We will evenly split any items or coins we find. I specialize in fire-based magic and would like to team up with a tanker type player who can protect me. Let’s discuss further details in person. Oh, and by the way, you have to be in a party with me to enter.

The post lacked any format or rules, and was written on a whim, making it hard to even catch one’s eye.

‘Dungeons usually don’t disclose their names or locations.’

For now, players intimidated by the grandiose term ‘dungeon’ may hesitate to attempt a clear, but that will change in time. While dangerous, dungeons are also ‘warehouses of new wealth’ that could turn life around.

‘Given the daily death toll at the Seoul Station Dungeon.’

I had already cleared the Seoul Station Dungeon, and thus, a dungeon break could not occur. Despite that, many had attempted to clear it and died.

‘The Short Table Dungeon, huh.’

The first dungeon that the Flame Emperor, Kang Sang-goo, had cleared. There wasn’t much known about it.

‘An event-type dungeon that disappears after one clear.’

Unlike the Seoul Station Dungeon, which remains even after being cleared, the Short Table Dungeon vanishes permanently after a single clear.

I left a comment.

└Applying for the raid. Current level is 25 and I am a tanker.

Whether it’s a private message or a comment, connection will be made. At this point, there’s hardly any player recklessly trying to clear the dungeon.

After leaving the comment, I headed with Sunhwa to the Seoul Station Dungeon.

* * *

Just before reaching the Seoul Station Dungeon, Senia appeared. Almost like a ghost, she timed her arrival perfectly, making me wonder if she had been observing me all this time.

‘Well, this works out.’

I spoke to Senia.

“Stand behind me when we enter the dungeon.”

“Player Kim Hyuk-jin, are you giving me an order now?”

What’s with her? Did she get some ‘training’ from other BJs not to get caught by players? Why this sudden change of attitude?

“Neptune couldn’t say anything when breaking the laws and oppressing me, but you sure speak well to me.”

Senia’s wingtips quivered slightly. I feel it every day, this BJ. So easy to manage. If she had only 1 percent of the wisdom to match her beauty, she might have been a famous BJ in the past.

She’s also bad at choosing the right moment to speak. I took the lead in timing.

“It concerns the play. The legitimacy of my request will be proved at the entrance of the dungeon.”

“……”

Senia stood behind me, expressionless. In front of Seoul Station Exit 2, a place now serving as the dungeon entrance, two police officers were dispatched.

“We need to check your identification.”

I haven’t committed a crime. I presented my ID card.

“And who is this young lady with you?”

“My sister. She’s a minor, so she doesn’t have an ID.”

“Hmm. Is she a player?”

“Yes, she’s in her early level 20s.”

Still too naive. Even the person checking my background isn’t a player, just a police officer. And the officer is clearly nervous.

──────────

Status: Tense/Anxious/Jittery/Fearful

──────────

This officer is so tense for one reason: Senia is standing behind me. Senia, my personal BJ, may not commit heinous acts like drilling a hole in a person’s head or slicing their throat, but to this officer, she’s undoubtedly a terrifying being.

‘A grotesque lifeform that is impervious to bullets, can reveal itself freely without the constraints of space and time, and has the power to bisect a person with a gesture.’

That’s how the police see a ‘middle manager.’ That’s why they didn’t get too troublesome. They knew doing so could get their necks wrung.

“Please enter.”

[This dungeon has already been cleared.]

[Would you like to enter the Seoul Station Dungeon?]

Of course. I’d like to clear it as a separate instance. I said to Senia.

“Request for individual play. Is that possible?”

“……”

Senia hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

“…It is possible, but–”

I caught a glimpse of her biting her lip slightly.

‘You must be curious.’

How I know all this information. How a player who barely managed to clear the Seoul Station Dungeon once knows about ‘individual play.’ She must be quite curious.

‘The more curiosity and interest you have in me, the better.’

[‘Individual play’ requests are possible for dungeons that have been cleared.]

[Would you like to proceed with the ‘individual play’ request?]

[Your request for ‘individual play’ has been accepted.]

As the term implies, individual play. It means clearing the dungeon only with players who entered at the same time, separately from those already inside. The content is still the same, just a different space.

[Entering Seoul Station Dungeon.]

I proceeded to clear the dungeon in the same manner as before, with Sunhwa. We saw Mandragoras.

“The answer is Rancher.”

[You have found the ‘correct answer’.]

[You have satisfied a hidden piece.]

──────────

[Choice of Rewards]

(1) Mandragora’s Heart Protector (掩心甲)

(2) Mandragora’s Greatsword (大劍)

──────────

The ‘Mandragora’s Gloves’ that I had previously received was no longer on the selection list.

[You have obtained Mandragora’s Heart Protector (掩心甲).]

The Seoul Station Dungeon may be a beginner-level dungeon, but it offers items with special options that boost elemental resistance.

──────────

[Mandragora’s Heart Protector]

The Mandragora’s Heart Protector (掩心甲) possesses a special effect. It provides significant resistance to ‘fire’ and protects the wearer from numerous debuffs.

Defense: 7

Option: Fire (火) Resistance +3

──────────

After acquiring the Heart Protector, I cleared the Seoul Station Dungeon the same way as before.

[You have cleared Seoul Station Dungeon.]

[Experience points gained.]

[+350 COIN]

[You have obtained ‘Black Yak’s Meat.’]

There were no special rewards as before, just coins and ‘Black Yak’s Meat’ for clearing the dungeon. Initially, I wasn’t hoping for anything special anyway.

Sunhwa asked me.

“Brother, can we go in again?”

“Yeah. Four more times.”

“Four more times? Why? You said we only needed three items.”

“Don’t you want to get anything as well?”

“…Ah!”

Sunhwa’s eyes widened.

“I can get items too?”

She smiled broadly, apparently not having expected to receive anything for herself.

“That will make it easier to exploit you.”

“As I thought, only you think about me!”

I slightly twisted Sunhwa’s head.

“Don’t get cheeky with me. If I had married early, I’d have a daughter like you.”

“Cheh. We’re only six years apart.”

I had to laugh. She was pretending to be hurt—she is a genius tank after all—but it looked childish the way she rubbed her head as if in pain.

“Let’s go in.”

We re-entered the Seoul Station Dungeon. Now it was time to obtain Mandragora’s Greatsword (大劍).

[You have obtained Mandragora’s Greatsword (大劍).]

──────────

[Mandragora’s Greatsword]

The Mandragora’s Greatsword (大劍) has a special function. It deals more damage to ‘earth’ (地) attribute entities.

Attack Power: 18~22

Options:

1) +10% Attack Power against ‘earth’ (地) attribute entities.

2) +10% Critical Hit Chance against ‘earth’ (地) attribute entities.

──────────

Sunhwa and I ultimately completed four ‘individual clears’. We acquired 2 gloves, 2 heart protectors, and 2 greatswords.

Sunhwa, seeming very tired, said.

“Brother, you’re not a machine, are you?”

“Don’t be such a baby.”

Sure, it must be taxing for Sunhwa too. But she’s not at her limit yet. She’s just being whiny right now. I had no intention of indulging her childish whims. Regardless of how cute Sunhwa is, coddling her at this stage would only hinder her growth.

“You haven’t even reached your limit yet.”

This is nothing compared to what’s to come. Even knowing what lies ahead, I can’t afford to be complacent.

In the meantime, I received a message from the Flame Emperor, Kang Sang-goo.

* * *

I set up a meeting with Kang Sang-goo.

-Let’s meet at Konkuk University Station.

Kang Sang-goo was certainly a peculiar man. He insisted on a three-person party to challenge the “Short Table Dungeon,” not knowing what it was like, with the reasoning:

-The rewards decrease if there are too many challengers. I’ve entered several times and fled, three should be enough. If it’s not, we can just run.

In front of Konkuk University Station stood a guy wearing glasses.

‘He was slim ten years ago.’

Ten years later, the Flame Emperor, Kang Sang-goo, had gained a lot of weight. The pre-obesity Kang Sang-goo had a sharp appearance, an ordinary man.

[Activating Sensory Eyes.]

I read the information about Kang Sang-goo.

──────────

[Player]

Name: Kang Sang-goo

──────────

“Hng.”

I felt a severe pain in my eyes, almost causing me to collapse.

“Brother, what’s wrong?”

[The ‘Giant of the Sunset’ exercises its inherent authority.]

[You cannot scrutinize ‘Kang Sang-goo’ with Sensory Eyes.]

Suddenly, the excruciating pain had vanished.

“I’m fine. Something must have gotten in my eye.”

I couldn’t read anything about Kang Sang-goo.

‘He shouldn’t be level 30 yet?’

And even if he were, it’s too early for such active intervention, even if he had chosen a guardian.

‘…There’s something.’

I didn’t know what, but there was a reason the ‘Giant of the Sunset’ blocked my special ability.

‘I could gain the upper hand if I knew.’

I didn’t show any sign of my thoughts. Kang Sang-goo shrugged.

“But seriously, even for a Play, isn’t bringing along such a young girl a bit much?”

“…”

Right. I’m aware, Kang Sang-goo. You can’t resist young ones. It’s not a dirty feeling like Seo Ju-hwan.

“Aren’t children precious beings to be protected?”

“I’m not a child, I’m a teen.”

“I don’t care. To me, you’re a child. Children and chicken should be protected.”

The future Flame Emperor, Kang Sang-goo, and the somehow vague ‘Giant of the Sunset.’ Their meeting, along with the challenge to the ‘Short Table Dungeon.’

‘Quite interesting.’

In the Short Table Dungeon, the Flame Emperor achieved a great awakening and later gained fame as the ‘Flame Emperor.’

‘What will you show here?’

I decided to watch. To see what kind of awakening he would display here.

‘And if the occasion arises…’

I might also gain the ability that Kang Sang-goo would attain, just like I possess the skill ‘Metamorphosis’ from the Swordsman.

“You said you’ve already entered several times before.”

The Short Table Dungeon can be entered freely, said Kang Sang-goo.

‘From what I know, there was no such thing.’

It’s all quite suspicious. The ‘Giant of the Sunset’ overprotecting Kang Sang-goo, as well as the new fact I wasn’t aware of which is ‘The Short Table Dungeon allows free entry.’ It seems like something is hidden.

However, Kang Sang-goo had apparently attempted the ‘Short Table Dungeon’ several times, failing and escaping. There’s a powerful monster in Gate 2, he said.

“What kind of monster shows up at Gate 2?”

“……”

Kang Sang-goo silenced himself for a moment.

“There is……”

I listened to his story. Though his description was poor, I realized from his explanation.

‘Could it be.’

The monster that Kang Sang-goo was describing…

‘Is it already showing up?’

The monster was one I knew about.