I Picked Up the Greatest Villain in the Story

80.

“They won’t separate us, will they?” Jihwan looked around at his companions with a slightly anxious expression. Similar concerns seemed to be arising from other groups as well, as murmuring noises continued.

Fortunately, their worries didn’t come true. Each team consisted of ten people. Among the five teams, they were assigned to Team 1.

Jian examined the members of Team 1. Except for one person, they were all strangers. Having only been close to guild members, he knew just one name.

“Wow, it’s an honor,” Jihwan couldn’t hide his excitement at the thought of being on the same team as the strongest person gathered here.

Yongho stared at the hand extended to him, then shook it briefly before letting go.

“…Yes,” his voice came out as if crawling over his pale lips.

“Hey, this isn’t the time to be happy. Read the room,” Jungsu pulled Jihwan’s arm and whispered. He sighed deeply at the puzzled eyes looking back at him.

“Look at our team’s strength. Don’t you think we’ll likely be at the forefront?”

“Oh… Now that you mention it, you’re right.”

While others might not know yet, Sehun was also a newly awakened S-rank hunter. With Yongho added, they had the strongest force among the five teams.

Even in normal dungeon raids, if there was no information about the dungeon, they would send the strongest as the advance party. The advance party gathered here, except for Sehun, were already proven strong individuals.

The fact that they were further filtered implied the role Team 1 would take on. As Jihwan’s complexion turned ashen, the team leader raised the megaphone again.

“Now, could the leaders of each team please come this way!”

“Leader? Have we already chosen our leader?”

They had just been called together, so there couldn’t have been time to choose a leader. As Jihwan expressed his doubt, Yongho slightly raised his right hand.

“…It’s me.”

“Ah, I see. Hahaha. Of course. Naturally, An Yongho should be the leader.”

Each team had been pre-selected with a leader before assigning team members. Only the leaders knew this fact in advance.

After Yongho walked towards where the field dispatch team leader was, Jihwan wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, though there was no sweat.

“Why do I feel drained already? If the leaders were pre-selected, they could have just said so. Am I the only one confused here?”

“No, I feel the same, brother,” Jian said, meeting Jihwan’s eyes. It was understandable to be disoriented, given that the advance party had been selected in less than a day after the tower appeared, rather than being prepared for a long time.

Events that would have been overwhelming even if spread over several days were hitting them like a storm in just one day.

Shortly after, Yongho returned carrying various artifacts.

“These are artifacts provided by the Hunter Management Bureau.”

A man in his 20s wearing a hunter police uniform helped Yongho distribute the artifacts.

“…It seems we will be the first to enter the tower,” Yongho added in a gloomy voice as he watched the team members receive the artifacts.

“As expected. It’s what we anticipated, but it’s still nerve-wracking,” Jihwan shrugged, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. They already knew the advance party would be dangerous.

That’s why when Hyunwoo asked him and Jungsu to join the advance party, they didn’t refuse. They thought it was right for those with more combat experience and seniority in the guild to go.

Despite the unexpected addition of the newly awakened Sehun, they weren’t particularly worried because S-rank itself was overwhelmingly powerful.

“We’ll enter in 10 minutes. We’re running behind schedule.”

Contrary to concerns, Yongho led people well. Except for his slightly soft voice, he didn’t stutter and spoke quite fluently.

“Ah, excuse me… Would it be alright if I also distribute some artifacts?” Jian seized the opportunity to speak to Yongho. Since he had become the leader of Team 1, Jian wanted to get permission.

“What kind of artifacts?” Jihwan expressed his doubt, finding Jian’s action strange. He couldn’t understand why Jian was suddenly offering to distribute artifacts, as if he were a philanthropist.

“I thought people might not have brought these artifacts,” Jian took out an artifact from his inventory and held it up for everyone to see.

It was a small rod-shaped artifact about 15 centimeters long. Jihwan and Jungsu recognized it immediately.

“A flash artifact? Are you worried the dungeon interior might be dark? We can use light artifacts for that. Everyone should have those, right?”

I know. I understand that too.

Jian smiled and listened quietly to Jihwan’s words. Although similar, there was a difference between artifacts that simply illuminate darkness and flash artifacts.

Flash artifacts produced light so intense that it could blind ordinary people if misused. It could be considered similar to a light-based bomb.

“Just in case. I got plenty from the Guild Master. Since we have no information about this dungeon, it’s good to bring everything we can, right?”

“That’s true. I don’t need one though. I still have one left from last time.”

“Me too.”

Since Jihwan and Jungsu already had them, Jian distributed the artifacts to the others. He actually wanted to give them to all advance party members, but restrained himself to avoid unnecessary attention.

If Team 1 was at the forefront, they would also be the first to enter the 5th floor. After identifying the monsters’ characteristics, they could naturally distribute them to others following behind.

“Sehun, here,” Jian handed five to Sehun specifically. Thinking he was being favored, Sehun smiled faintly, his youthful face making Jian even more worried.

Afterwards, under Yongho’s lead, everyone briefly exchanged information about their names, hunter ranks, and main abilities.

When Sehun introduced himself, everyone couldn’t hide their surprise. Even Yongho showed an intense reaction, his hood fluttering despite being pulled down.

After checking the amount of combat rations, emergency kits, and various recovery potions in preparation for any situation, it finally felt real that they were about to start.

“Would Team 1 members please come this way!” The voice through the megaphone called for Jian and his companions. Right in front of the tower, there was another yellow barricade.

The dark tower revealed an undeniable presence as they approached. It stimulated the urge to run away, as if touching the fear sleeping in the depths of human psyche.

“…This is no joke,” Jihwan’s trembling voice was full of tension. The only ones who seemed calm in this situation were Yongho and Sehun, whose expressions were unreadable.

Jian swallowed dryly and called up his skill window. Although floors 1 to 4 had monsters everyone knew about, they still couldn’t let their guard down.

“After Team 1 enters first, other teams will be deployed at intervals,” The field dispatch team leader couldn’t hide his tense expression either. Jian swallowed as he looked at the huge iron door before him. The door, which seemed to be at least 3 meters tall, was intimidating in itself.

“These are communication artifacts. Please also attach a body camera each.”

They put the earpiece-like communication artifacts in their right ears and attached the body cameras to their chests. After attaching his own, Jian carefully checked if Sehun’s were properly attached as well.

The communication artifacts could only be used among people who entered the dungeon together. The footage from the body cameras would go straight to the research institute under the Hunter Management Bureau if they made it out safely.

He hoped that no one’s death would be recorded in there. That’s why he was entering the tower, even bringing Sehun along.

“Then please enter,” At the team leader’s words, Yongho extended his right arm to push the iron door.

Creeeeak.

With a sound like nails scratching an iron plate, the tower’s door finally opened.

A quiet darkness was approaching. Jian took a deep breath and tightly grasped Sehun’s hand. Between their intertwined fingers was a firm resolve to ensure Sehun wouldn’t be in danger.

Boom.

The iron door closed with a heavy sound. The team leader, left alone where Team 1 had disappeared, made a small sign of the cross.

* * *

“Everyone stop.”

Yongho raised his right hand. While it looked like a tower from the outside, inside, a castle with a musty smell of dust greeted the group.

The huge chandelier on the ceiling was covered in cobwebs. The hall, which might have once hosted grand parties, was equally desolate.

Dusty candlesticks and plants that had withered and hardened like fossils created an ominous atmosphere.

Among these, what caught Jian’s attention was the bright light bursting from above the central staircase. The blue light flowing from the floor was clear and clean, incongruously with the surrounding situation.