I’ll Retire After Saving the World

Chapter 55: The Strategy Guide (1)

TL: SHW

Dungeon.

A dungeon, huh.

“What kind of dungeon is it… How long will it take?”

“I’m not sure about that either.”

Hong Seok-young stroked his chin.

“If I were at least an A-rank, I could guarantee I’d be back within a week, but…”

“But?”

“I don’t want to jinx it.”

No one is as superstitious as a Hunter.

From the way he’s talking, it’s definitely an S-rank…. Was it Gangwon-do? Was there an S-rank dungeon that Hong Seok-young raided around this time?

Even I can’t memorize all the dungeons the old man has raided. There are so many.

“This time, Teacher Kim is going with me.”

“Teacher Kim Chae-min too?”

Kim Chae-min is too talented to be left in this shabby school doing kids’ lunch errands.

I can’t let both of them waste their time teaching kids here aimlessly. The reason the establishment of this pilot high school was opposed in the first place was this. How many dungeons could be raided while Hong Seok-young wastes his time on this pointless task?

“Since the school was established, it’s been a long time since I properly went on a raid. Recently, the dungeons have been calm, so I’ve managed. If not, it would have been chaos.”

“So, what about this dungeon?”

“They said the area around the gate has become unstable. It seems like a sign of a Dungeon Break, so they requested we raid it before it bursts.”

For an S-rank dungeon, it’s best to deal with it before it breaks.

“What dungeon in Gangwon-do is it?”

“Would you know if I told you?”

“…Where is it located?”

“Sokcho.”

Sokcho, Gangwon-do, S-rank dungeon.

I have a really bad feeling about this.

“When are you leaving?”

“In two days.”

“…You said Teacher Kim is going too, right? I don’t have a driver’s license, so what about the kids? Are we closing the school?”

“Haha. No way. Didn’t I already give them a few days off after the raid? If we give them more time off, they’ll get rusty.”

“They need to have skills to get rusty in the first place…”

“Don’t point out such painful truths.”

Hong Seok-young laughed heartily and replied.

“Daseon will help. They said we can’t delay Hunter Lee any longer and suggested we improve the school facilities.”

“Are you building a new building?”

“That will be next year.”

Still, if they are going to improve the place that can hardly be called a school, it’s welcome.

Students need a proper learning environment.

“What about the mana control device?”

After taking the kids into the dungeon, Hong Seok-young didn’t put the mana control device back on. He explained that it’s better not to do anything suspicious since he has to attend the National New Heart and Spirit Association meeting.

But the old man. He doesn’t seem to have any intention of putting it back on.

“Why? Do you want put it back on?”

Look at him saying that.

“No.”

“Right? Then you don’t need to wear it.”

I knew this would happen.

It’s convenient and good for me.

“It seems like a waste to keep restraining you… It’s better for teaching the kids without it, right? Teach them well while I’m gone.”

“Ah, yes….”

I just nodded. I don’t know if the old man is being thoughtful or lacks any.

He probably completely forgot about Yoo Ji-eun’s sword or doesn’t care about it.

“…Then can I teach the classes as I want?”

“Oh, the curriculum? You said you made one, right?”

“I told you to check it. I gave it to you.”

“Hmm. I saw it.”

“You didn’t see it, did you?”

“Well, isn’t it good to trust each other? I believe you’ll do well.”

Hong Seok-young grinned.

* * *

“Alright, listen to Teacher Woo well!”

Although he said they would depart in two days, Hong Seok-young left the next day. Kim Chae-min also waved with a shy smile.

“Teacher will be back soon after the raid!”

Now, eight kids are left with me.

The curriculum isn’t anything grand. I just roughly wrote down the Hunter Academy timetable from my memory. Since there are many shortages in teachers and facilities, we can’t follow it exactly, so I cut down a lot.

Among them, there are only a few things I can confidently teach.

Even though two of the three teachers left like the wind, the kids were not surprised. When I subtly raised my eyebrows, Lee Seung-yeon, who is quick-witted, promptly answered.

“They used to go out occasionally before the Myeong-dong incident.”

“For raids?”

“Yes….”

“What about classes?”

“We didn’t have any…”

“None at all?”

“…Self-study?”

“Is that so.”

“Yes….”

I crossed my arms and frowned. I lightly tapped the podium with my finger.

I know the old man’s skills better than anyone. People say he’s been in his prime for thirty years. There’s no need to worry. There’s no need to be concerned.

What I’m really worried about is not this side.

“…….”

That dungeon in Gangwon-do is definitely….

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

I stopped tapping the podium with my finger.

Eight pairs of eyes followed my finger’s movements, bobbing their heads and then stopping.

What’s with them?

This damn school doesn’t have a single normal thing.

“What is it? If you have something to say, say it.”

“Huh? Ah, no….”

Now that I think about it, it’s too quiet.

I suppose since these are kids who have even obtained hunter licenses, they have a more adult-like aspect compared to other high school students. There were cases like Oh Hyun-wook, Seo Han-seong, and Yoo Hye-eun, who didn’t have a good family environment or upbringing.

Hmm… I did exhaust them with lessons to prevent any other mischief.

But there’s always one kid who keeps chattering. Lee Seung-yeon was that kind of kid.

The one who is now just watching me nervously.

“What is it?”

“Nothi….”

Are you shy now?

“With the principal not here… I was just wondering what kind of classes we’ll be having….”

“Hey.”

Oh Hyun-wook, who was frowning behind Lee Seung-yeon, suddenly spoke up.

So you’ve finally decided to talk to me?

Seeing that he came to school quietly after resting for a few days, he must have sorted out his thoughts to some extent.

Oh Hyun-wook fidgeted with an uncomfortable look when our eyes met.

“…Our grades.”

“Grades?”

“You said the dungeon raid… was a test.”

“Ah.”

“…….”

“That.”

To be honest, I forgot.

No, I was full of enthusiasm to thoroughly examine the kids from top to bottom.

Kim Chae-min, who peeked at the lesson plan I made, said this.

‘Give the kids a carrot.’

‘A carrot?’

‘The kids will know what they did wrong. Do you really need to scold them? Instead of discouraging them, cheer them on to do better next time.’

‘There is no next time in a dungeon raid.’

‘Oh, come on, don’t say it like that!’

The Archmage had been quite insistent.

Kim Chae-min’s words made sense.

Look at Park Seo-hyun. Isn’t it worth praising her enthusiastically? Considering Oh Hyun-wook was sobbing right after the raid… maybe it’s time to boost their spirits.

“When preparing for a dungeon raid, what do you think is the first thing you should do?”

“Huh?”

“Say anything one by one. It’s okay if the answers are the same.”

I pointed to Oh Hyun-wook.

“Oh Hyun-wook?”

“…Supplies.”

Typical of a kid who was treated like a slave by a guild. I called on Seo Han-seong sitting next to him.

“Seo Han-seong?”

“Combatants… I guess?”

“Lee Seung-yeon.”

“…Information about the dungeon, perhaps.”

I had to call their names, but they answered sincerely.

“Ah, I also think it’s supplies….”

Lastly, I heard Yoo Hye-eun’s answer.

Well… I didn’t expect much. I didn’t teach them.

The dungeon raid methods were organized and compiled into textbooks at the Hunter Academy. The old man used to boast about how he poured all his know-how into them, but considering his vocabulary, who knows how reliable they are.

Anyway, those strategies were translated into various languages and spread worldwide. It served as a guideline not only for the Hunter Academy but for all Hunters.

“What you all mentioned isn’t entirely wrong.”

The sound of car wheels could be heard from outside. Lee Mi-seon said she would come. It’s the cars from Daseon. Listening to them quietly stopping at the corner of the playground, I officially started the lesson.

“Supplies? Combatants? Dungeon information? Strategy? All of them are important. Every single one is crucial. But think about it. When analyzing dungeon information, deciding what skills are needed, determining how many people are required, how to move, what supplies they need, or the quantities required… Who makes those decisions?”

It’s a very simple question.

The two guild members flinched. Since they couldn’t answer, Han Eun-young spoke up instead.

“The Guild Master?”

“Do only guilds raid dungeons? The principal and Teacher Kim Chae-min went on a raid together. They’re not from the same guild.”

“Uh….”

I drew a crown shape on the blackboard.

“It’s the leader.”

“The leader?”

“The leader of the raid party. The title doesn’t matter. It’s the person who has command authority within the dungeon.”

Don’t they say too many cooks spoil the broth?

The raid leader is the one who rows desperately to keep the ship from sinking.

“Not appointing a leader. That was your first mistake.”

Oops. I didn’t mean to point out mistakes.

But what’s said is said.

“You were confused once you entered the dungeon, right? Without me, you couldn’t organize.”

“…Yes.”

I pointed to Oh Hyun-wook.

“It was good that you quickly took charge. You organized the formation and set the direction.”

The second mistake.

“But you relied on him too much.”

When Oh Hyun-wook collapsed, the raid party fell apart.

“No matter how easy the dungeon is, appoint a leader and a deputy leader. Even if one becomes incapacitated, the other can cover. In large-scale raid parties, breaking down the personnel into smaller units and solidifying the command structure isn’t for nothing.”

Squeak.

The back door quietly opened. Lee Mi-seon bowed her head towards me and smiled apologetically.

“In reality, that dungeon shouldn’t have been a failure at your level. I had to step in because I couldn’t watch any longer, but I only killed one pixie there.”

It was the one that attacked Oh Hyun-wook.

“After I organized the formation, it became easy, right? If you had kept your wits about you, even that wouldn’t have been necessary.”

No, the carrot… The carrot!

But how do I give them the carrot?

I looked at Lee Mi-seon at the back of the classroom. There was something I wanted to ask. No, something I needed to confirm.

“Don’t dwell on your mistakes. Of course, you shouldn’t be stupid enough to repeat the same mistakes again.”

“…….”

“What should you do to avoid making mistakes?”

“…We need to fix it, right?”

“What do you need to fix?”

I scoffed at the kids who were groaning.

“Raiding a dungeon isn’t just about being good at fighting. From now on, I’ll also teach you how to use your heads.”

“…….”

“To do that… Right. Think about how you would raid the dungeon if you were the leader. I brought some snacks for you, so enjoy those too.”

“Oh, ah! Teacher!”

“Hmm?”

“D-do I have to do it too?”

Yoo Hye-eun raised her hand slightly and asked.

…Well, she probably won’t have to go into a dungeon anyway.

“You’d be bored, so give it a try. Or just practice your magic control.”

I gestured to the door with a nod to Lee Mi-seon. She tilted her head slightly but followed me out of the container.

After leading Lee Mi-seon to a spot far enough away that the kids couldn’t hear us, I urgently asked.

“Hunter-nim. About the dungeon that Teacher Hong and Teacher Kim went into.”

“Hello. It’s been a while, right? Good to see you. Yes, the dungeon?”

“…Hello. That dungeon, is it the one with the sirens?”

Lee Mi-seon squinted her eyes.

“Where did you hear about that?”

“Is it true?”

“…….”

Her face, which was quietly observing me, slowly nodded.

“Yes, it’s true. The Siren Dungeon off the coast of Sokcho. Many Hunters have been devoured there.”

Gangwon-do Sokcho. A dungeon on the sea.

Also known as the Siren’s Nest.

In 2024, Archmage Kim Chae-min died hunting a siren that emerged from this dungeon.