Chapter 30: The Real Advantage

Originally, the plan had been simple: gather the four S-rank Awakeners and clear the dungeons one by one.

Their skills were already well developed, and with his buffs added on top, they should’ve been able to clear them in order of difficulty, without relying on the Constellations.

‘But… if dungeon gates start opening at random, what happens to me?’

It felt like the entire plan, clear the dungeons and return, was beginning to warp.

“Hah, you’re disappointed too, right, hyung? I’m really, really sad our first night together is going to be like this. But there are kids and small animals out there, it’s too pitiful. Let’s go fight first. I’m in a great mood right now. I can win against anything.”

‘Is the first night really what matters right now?’

Ju-an felt exasperated by Gong Se-yoon, but he forced himself to stay calm. This wasn’t the time to argue about not going to the dungeon. Instead, he held out his hand.

“Se-yoon, shake my hand.”

“You’re giving me a skill, right?”

“What else would it be? Hurry. We don’t have time.”

Only after Ju-an urged him did Se-yoon clasp his hand. After a few shakes, heat bloomed between their palms, the skill transfer complete. Se-yoon immediately turned his back and crouched in front of him.

“Get on. You said we don’t have time.”

He knew there was no other way, but this skill still felt awkward every time.

‘If you were going to give me a skill, why not one that boosts both our movement speeds?!’

Grumbling inwardly, Ju-an wrapped his arms around Se-yoon’s neck as Se-yoon lifted him effortlessly and began sprinting.

****

Outside, the chaos was worse than he expected.

The sudden dungeon had already destroyed the buildings and roads that once stood there. People who had been inside were being carried out on stretchers. Entering the gate wasn’t the priority, rescuing civilians came first.

“What are you doing?! Move faster! Damn it, hurry up!”

The shout came from Joo Ji-chan, yelling at the late-arriving paramedics.

“Se-yoon, over there.”

“To Joo Ji-chan?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Mo Jun-young said to gather at the gate.”

“We need to help these people first. We can’t just ignore them.”

Pouting slightly, Se-yoon changed direction toward Ji-chan. As they approached, Ji-chan, panting, barked,

“Put Seong Ju-an down and help me move people!”

Though clearly displeased, Se-yoon obediently began lifting injured civilians onto stretchers and carrying them to ambulances. The speed of an S-rank Awakener was on another level. Ju-an did what he could, approaching the fallen to check their conditions.

“Sir, can you hear me?”

A tall man weakly nodded.

“This one’s conscious! Prioritize the conscious first!”

Just as Ji-chan loaded the man onto a stretcher, sirens blared. More than ten ambulances rushed into the scene. Ji-chan’s eyes widened.

“What the hell? This has never happened before. Did the government send support?”

“No,” came a calm voice.

Mo Jun-young had arrived unnoticed, watching the incoming ambulances.

“The center has already deployed all available personnel.”

“Then where did all those-”

Before Ji-chan could finish, the door of a sleek sedan opened, and Baek Eun-hoo stepped out.

“You all doing well?”

He raised a hand casually, yet the sight of him, like a general arriving with reinforcements, was striking. Ju-an stared, mouth slightly open.

Dressed in white combat gear, silver hair flowing, holding a whip crackling with electricity, he was breathtakingly beautiful.

“Hyung, what are you doing? Get a grip.”

“Ah- right.”

Se-yoon was glaring sharply at him. If Ju-an stared any longer, it looked like Se-yoon might actually bite someone.

Baek Eun-hoo surveyed the injured, clicking his tongue.

“To think those Constellation bastards would go this far. They’ve crossed the line.”

Ji-chan scoffed.

“Oh please. Since when do you care about civilians?”

Eun-hoo smirked.

“I personally funded those ambulances. Isn’t that worth some credit?”

His blue eyes sparkled. On paper, he hadn’t been written as this righteous. Maybe Baek Eun-hoo did have some sense of justice after all.

The situation was quickly stabilized, thanks to the ambulances, and the combined efforts of the S-rank Awakeners.

“Is that it?” Baek asked.

“Looks about wrapped up. Just the dungeon left,” Ji-chan replied, wiping sweat.

Mo Jun-young pulled out his phone to report to higher authorities. Se-yoon clung tightly to Ju-an’s arm.

Watching them, Ju-an realized something.

They were all twisted in their own ways, but when faced with a common goal, they cooperated flawlessly.

Even if things had gone off-plan, they could still clear the dungeon. If you can’t avoid it, you adapt.

Whether this world was a dream or reality didn’t matter. The dungeons, the monsters, they were all creations born from his hands.

No one in this world held a greater advantage in than Seong Ju-an.

If he fully utilized his knowledge of the system and his S-rank buffer abilities, no matter how dire the situation, they could clear it.

As confidence swelled in his chest, heat tingling in his palm, a system window appeared before him.

< Dungeon Information >

Ju-an’s mouth fell open.

He had never seen this window since awakening as a Buffer.

What is this? It’s not help from a Constellation… Is there a Game Master in this world?

Regardless, more information was always better.

He focused on the screen.

< Dungeon Information
— STAGE 3
— Recommended Party LV. B-rank 5 or more
— Monster LV

• Werewolf (??) : 1
• Wolf Archer (A) : 234
• Wolf Mercenary (B) : 1,542 >

Bosses were listed by rank. The first, Werewolf, was the boss. The last, Wolf Mercenaries, were fodder.

There was a question mark next to the boss, but Ju-an already knew its rank. It was A-rank, like the archers, but unlike them, it used hallucination skills rather than physical attacks. Even an A-rank could wipe out a party if caught off guard.

The archers and mercenaries should be manageable with this lineup.

“…Ha.”

A hallucination-type boss, he would’ve preferred to face something like that after their teamwork was more polished.

No use worrying. The situation was already set. Now that he knew the enemy, it was time to assess the allies.

He quickly opened the party window.

< Party Members (5 / 5)
— Seong Ju-an (S-rank Buffer)
— Mo Jun-young (S-rank Hunter – Physical)
— Baek Eun-hoo (S-rank Hunter – Lightning)
— Joo Ji-chan (S-rank Hunter – Fire)
— Gong Se-yoon (S-rank Hunter – Ice) >

“Ha! This is it!”

Ju-an couldn’t help but exclaim. If this were the actual game, how many pulls would it take to assemble a lineup like this?

“What are you grinning about?” Ji-chan asked.

“I just checked the party window. Seeing this lineup alone makes me feel good.”

“Tch.”

Ju-an straightened.

“You all know I have a special ability.”

“Skip the obvious. Get to the point,” Baek Eun-hoo said.

“I know the stage level of this dungeon. I know the monsters’ names, and their skills. So from here on out, you need to trust me completely.”

All four men turned their gazes toward him. A rookie Buffer claiming detailed dungeon knowledge wasn’t exactly convincing.

They liked him enough to follow if he insisted, but on a battlefield where lives were at stake, complete trust was necessary.

How could he make them believe him entirely?

Then an idea flashed through his mind.

‘Creator of Sacrifice!’

If he touched upon the one thing they were most curious about, they wouldn’t be able to help but believe him.

Of course, revealing himself as a Constellation could bring massive consequences later, but clearing the dungeon came first.

He’d worry about the fallout later.