SSS-Rank Overlord: Defend the Dungeon or Die-Chapter 168: Episode

’Trapper. Her class is certainly questionable. I don’t know how she managed to reach A-rank, but it’s clear her skills and abilities are beyond what one would expect.’

Normally, Raiders were the ones on the attack, breaking through a dungeon’s defenses. The dungeon waited; the Raiders advanced. In such a dynamic, a Trapper’s utility should be extremely low. However, the fact that she had reached A-rank meant she possessed techniques that broke from conventional concepts. In fact, her utility might even decrease if she were bound to a single dungeon.

’But that makes her all the more perfect for my dungeon. I didn’t find that bastard Taehyun Yoo, but a Raider like her is worth the trip!’

He had come to the slave auction to find the man who had ignored him, but his objective had changed because of the Raider named Hera. Seokwoo invested a whopping two million Zen, intending to end the bidding war.

[2,000,000 Zen]

"Even for an A-rank Raider, isn’t that too much?!"

"Who the hell bid two million Zen? Are they rolling in money?"

"Hah. It’s a shame, but I’m out. Investing two million Zen in a Trapper is a bit much."

The other Dungeon Masters were lowering their hands one by one, giving up. Seokwoo sneered at them and looked at Hera.

’Ignorant fools. You don’t see her limitless potential. If she’s an offensive-type Trapper, she could counter-attack a raid party. The amnesia is a problem, but a contract will solve that. I will have her, no matter what!’

The auction was slowly winding down. The bidding for Hera had stalled at two million Zen, and no other Dungeon Masters seemed to be interested. Seokwoo took out a contract in advance and leisurely watched the auctioneer. Just then, someone in the back row muttered.

"Three million Zen."

It was a Dungeon Master, bidding a final price of three million Zen. Instantly, everyone’s attention snapped to him.

[3,000,000 Zen]

"Are you insane?! Three million Zen for a Trapper?!"

"The guy who bid two million and the guy who bid three million... I’m getting really curious about who they are."

"Aah! I’m so jealous. Just thinking about playing with that delicate girl every day makes me green with envy."

The bidding for Hera seemed to have solidified at three million Zen. Seokwoo gritted his teeth and glared toward the back seats.

’Dammit. I’m still B-rank, so I can’t invest any more Zen. Who the hell is that guy?’

He was in the middle of preparing to raid some ruins to reach A-rank. Having already invested most of his Zen in strengthening his forces, he had no more financial leeway. He had no choice but to give up on Hera. Seokwoo burned the location of the back seat into his memory. The moment the auction ended, he would see exactly who that Dungeon Master was.

"The f-final winning bid is three million Zen! The product will be handed over as soon as the Fourth Slave Auction concludes."

And so, the auction for the sixth slave, Hera, was concluded by a single person.

---

Tangled red hair, a face caked in dust, and ragged clothes torn to reveal the skin beneath. She was, for all intents and purposes, a slave. The A-rank Trapper, Hera. A girl he had definitely never seen or heard of before. And yet, he had just invested a staggering three million Zen to purchase her.

’W-What did I just do? I remember our eyes meeting, and then... nothing!’

He couldn’t remember anything after his gaze met Hera’s vacant one. By the time he came to his senses, the final bid had already been set at three million Zen.

[3,000,000 Zen]

Taehyun stared at the message in front of him, cursing himself. No matter how good an A-rank Trapper she was, she wasn’t worth three million Zen. A huge sum was about to be wasted on a single Raider.

"Did I really make a mistake like this?"

"L-Lord. Are you alright?"

"No, I’m not. I’m furious. I’m about to buy a Raider of unknown utility for three million Zen. Kesha, can I cancel the purchase?"

"That is impossible, of course, sir."

"I figured."

A deep sigh escaped him. The next slaves were brought onto the stage, but he had already lost interest. Having spent a whopping three million Zen on Hera, he couldn’t afford to waste any more.

"Now for our final, nineteenth product!"

And so, the Fourth Slave Auction slowly drew to a close.

---

"This concludes today’s Fourth Slave Auction. We thank all the customers who participated. The next Fifth Auction will be..."

The lamps slowly flickered to life. The auction was over. As the interior brightened, the Dungeon Masters immediately began to look around at the others.

"I think that’s him. The guy who bid three million Zen."

"Dammit. I can’t see his face under that hood. Did he anticipate this and hide his appearance?"

"Hey! You! Show us who you are!"

They were all desperate to know the identity of the Dungeon Master who had bought Hera. However, the man with his hood pulled low didn’t even give them a glance as he left with a demon. Seokwoo, who had been waiting, quickly followed so as not to lose him.

"Was it you? The one who purchased the Trapper, Hera?"

"...Why do you keep following me around?"

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. When have I ever followed you?"

"Hah. I’m in a very bad mood right now, so just get lost."

The hooded figure sighed and gestured him away. Unable to contain his anger, Seokwoo ripped off the hood.

"Hup! T-Taehyun Yoo, the Dungeon Master of Balak?!"

"Kesha. This should count as a forcible act, no different from violence. What’s the protocol?"

"I see. Ripping off someone’s hood without permission certainly requires action. Unfortunately, B-rank Dungeon Master Seokwoo Yoo, you will have to leave the Demon Realm Auction for today."

The mid-rank demon Kesha immediately bowed her head in a formal greeting. Flustered, Seokwoo tried to argue with Taehyun, but a teleportation magic circle was already glowing at his feet.

[Second Warning!]

[B-rank Dungeon Master Seokwoo Yoo is prohibited from re-entering the Demon Realm Auction for the rest of the day.]

In the end, Seokwoo was expelled from the Demon Realm Auction, vanishing on the spot.

---

"Are you A-rank Dungeon Master Taehyun Yoo, the purchaser of the sixth product?"

After the auction ended, the demon who had been the auctioneer appeared with Hera. Taehyun, waiting behind the tent, sighed and nodded. The purchase was final, so he had to at least take possession of her.

"Now, I will release her affiliation immediately. Please proceed with the contract here."

"A contract from my inventory will work, right?"

"Of course."

Since he always carried contracts with him, it wasn’t a major inconvenience. Taehyun took one out and modified its contents. The parties were Dungeon Master Taehyun Yoo and Raider Hera. With this, she would belong to Balak. Leaving the shackles on, the demon used a skill to release her affiliation. Taehyun naturally handed the quill and contract to Hera.

"...What should I do?"

"You don’t even know what a contract is?"

"I only know how to fight. I don’t remember anything else."

"Hah. Just write your name there. You at least remember your own name, don’t you?"

She nodded and signed the contract.

[The contract process has been completed.]

[The contract has been activated.]

[Morpina, the God of Contracts, observes Player Taehyun Yoo and Player Hyena Yu.]

Finally, the contract was sealed. From now on, the A-rank Trapper would operate as a member of Balak. Taehyun stared at the message, stunned. The girl he thought was a simple Raider was displayed as a Player.

"What’s your name?"

"I am Hyena Yu. I’ve been called Hera since coming here, but my real name is Hyena Yu."

"Your memories from the modern world... You don’t remember how you’ve been living since you got here either?"

"Modern world? What’s that?"

The term seemed unfamiliar to her as she just tilted her head. Taehyun looked at the auctioneer, but he just shrugged, seemingly knowing nothing about her either.

"All I know is that she was captured in the dungeon of a Player affiliated with the Blood Lions. Other than that, I have received no information."

"...So there’s no problem with the transfer, right?"

"That’s correct. Even if she is a Player Raider, you purchased her, so you may take her with you. Well then, I’ll be on my way."

With a light farewell, the demon returned to the slave auction house. Hyena looked at the auction house for a moment, then turned her head back to Taehyun.

"Am I now a member of Balak, Master?"

"Did those demon bastards teach you that title too?"

"Yes. A ’Hetis’ also taught me about titles. I will serve you with all my heart from now on."

Hetis. That was probably the auctioneer. Hyena had clearly been educated as a slave; her posture was impeccable.

’They used her amnesia to completely tame her.’

There seemed to be no major obstacles to utilizing her. Conscious of the eyes around them, Taehyun put a hooded robe on Hyena.

"This is?"

"Wear this until we leave."

"Understood, Master."

"Grai, I’ll give you some Zen. Go buy a new hood. It’ll be a pain if those Resistance members spot me."

Taehyun gave Grai some Zen and sent him on an errand. At the same time, Kesha seemed to have finished her duties and was leaving. Once the two of them were alone, Taehyun scratched his head and finally questioned Hyena.

"Alright. Since you’re now part of Balak, let me ask you a few things. First, what’s your main weapon?"

"A bow. I mainly use arrows to detonate explosive traps I’ve set."

"Then how do you use your skills?"

"I have four trap skills. Two are traps that are set in advance. The other two are traps that are attached directly to arrows and fired with them. The latter activate as soon as I give the signal."

She certainly possessed skills that went beyond the concept of a normal Trapper.

’I’ll have to test her properly later, but just from the description, she sounds incredibly useful. This might be an unexpected windfall.’

If she could fire traps attached to arrows, it was essentially the same as making traps mobile. If her traps were to activate when a raid party least expected it, they could inflict considerable damage. Taehyun slightly revised his assessment of Hyena. Once he confirmed her abilities in Balak, he might have to re-evaluate her entirely.

"I see. I get the gist. What about your special ability?"

"I have one, but I think you’ll have to see it in person to understand."

"We’re going back to Balak anyway, so we can check that later. Did the demons tell you anything else?"

"They did. That I am, in fact, a virgin."

It was an answer that left him speechless. Taehyun shook his head and looked back. Grai had already returned with a new hooded robe.

"Hah. For now, let’s finish buying what we need and head straight back to Balak."

"Understood, Lord."

"You, too. Stick close so you don’t get lost."

"Understood, Master."

And so, Taehyun continued to wander the Demon Realm Auction with two people in tow.

---

[You have returned to Balak.]

He finished his first visit to the Demon Realm Auction and returned to Balak. Riel, who was sitting down, puffed out her cheeks as soon as she saw Hyena.

"So you forgot my present but brought back a slave Raider, is that it?"

"Here."

"Oh my! Thank you, Master."

Taehyun tossed an accessory to Riel and sat down. The Guardians and Keepers had already returned to their respective dungeons. All that remained were Grai, Rabiz, and Hyena. Taehyun assigned a separate room to Hyena and asked Riel to show her the way. After Grai and Rabiz also left the Master Room, the chamber fell silent. Left alone, Taehyun clutched his head and recalled the events at the auction.

’What in the world was that? The moment our eyes met, my consciousness blacked out. According to her description, Hyena doesn’t have any skill or ability like that.’

A blackout the moment their eyes met, a winning bid he didn’t remember making, and an unintentional purchase. Everything was a mystery.

’I’ve definitely never seen or heard of Hyena. Not on the continent, and not in the modern... wait. The modern world?’

Suddenly, he thought of his old life. As his eyes began to tremble, Taehyun muttered with a grave expression.

"...Come to think of it, who did I know back in the modern world?"