Chapter 20

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 020

Chapter Title: Here Comes a New Tenant!

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"...I can use mana!?"

Haegyeom double-checked the title he'd earned from the achievement.

"Uh..."

He focused on room 101 in his inventory.

A strange power tugged at one of his senses.

'Is this mana?'

He willed that power to move.

"...!"

It obeyed.

"For real? Mana awakening? Me?"

He was dumbfounded.

But that was that, and he still needed to test it properly.

Haegyeom pulled out the mana rifle and gripped the handle.

The RHK-741 could amplify its destructive power through the mana circuits in the handle.

"Mana into here..."

He carefully channeled mana from the Dragon Lair—room 101—into the rifle through the handle.

Woooong—

A rising hum filled the air as the gauge on the side of the rifle climbed.

Mana was charging.

In an instant, it hit 100%.

"...So firing it like this makes it way more powerful."

He'd accidentally gained a much stronger weapon.

And the mana in room 101 still felt incredibly abundant.

It didn't seem like the rifle could even drain it all.

"Whoa."

Haegyeom marveled as he glanced at room 102.

There was Drong, playing happily in the Kids Cafe.

Ppe?

Sensing his gaze, Drong set down the flaming rock it had been toying with.

Ppe ppe!

Then it climbed out of the lava, shook itself off, and scattered the molten droplets.

"Whoa, what's up? Done playing already?"

Ppiya...!

Drong patted its belly with a front paw.

Checking the tenant management screen confirmed it: the little guy was hungry.

"Alright, let's eat."

Haegyeom took Drong out, moved it to room 101, and handed over a mana stone.

Nomf—

The mana stone vanished in a flash.

Watching, Haegyeom thought to himself.

'...Good thing.'

Good thing, indeed.

The condition for earning this 'Title: Owner of the Dragon Lair' had been filling the bond gauge with Drong.

And that meant Drong was pretty satisfied with its current life, right?

'Sure, the rewards from that, or having a proper companion for climbing the tower...'

More than the benefits he'd gained...

For some reason...

'I'm just glad it's adapting well.'

Haegyeom felt happier than ever, like Drong had truly become family.

Five days into the 'Newbie Protection Period' activated by the Newbie Shield.

Haegyeom entered the 10th floor of the tower.

The viewers welcomed him as always.

Haegyeom greeted them back.

"Drong."

—By pulling out Drong.

"Yeah, well... I know full well Drong is more popular than me."

Pbam!

"......I'll just stick to being under Drong."

Haegyeom decided to leave the stream to Drong.

He casually perched it on his head.

He checked the clear points for the tenth floor from outside the safe zone.

'Hmm.'

Far off, a massive orc village came into view.

Dozens ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of orcs were visible.

Adding the hidden ones, there had to be over a hundred.

And turning to the opposite side revealed another orc pack.

Like floors 6 through 9, the 10th floor had monsters on both sides.

Amid the nano-level reactions to Drong’s every move, comments about clearing the tenth floor stood out.

It was true, as they said.

'Boss floors ramp up every 5 floors. And 10th is notoriously tough...'

Climbers who reached the 9th were generally strong.

A few orcs were no match in a straight fight.

At that point, the small rear packs were a breeze.

The problem was the front orc village.

Mess up there—their main base—and orcs swarmed like bees.

A monster wave no ordinary 9th-floor hunter could handle.

A proper 'boss floor' every 5 levels.

Hence, guerrilla hit-and-run tactics became the standard for the 10th.

But...

Well...

To Haegyeom, it didn't look much different from before.

Drong breath on the main base.

Mana rifle spray on the rear pack.

Same strategy as always would do.

'Plus now I can pump it full of mana for even more power...'

No problem.

"Time to start the clear.."

The hardcore Drong fans wailed at the announcement that he was starting the clear.

There were requests for more streams, but Haegyeom had no plans.

'I'm only streaming now out of necessity anyway.'

Anyway.

He set Drong down on the ground.

"Drong. Blast breath over there. You got it?"

Drong stared at the orc village for a moment, then nodded.

"Okay."

Haegyeom nodded back and aimed the RHK-741 mana rifle in the opposite direction.

"Huuuuu."

Breath steady. Mana inject.

Woooong—

Mana full charge. Fire.

Tututututututukwaaagagagwang───!!!

Empowered by mana, the destructive blast far exceeded before, sweeping the impact point.

Rear orc pack: total annihilation.

And.

Kwaaaaaaaa──────!!!!

Drong's breath, feeling even wider than usual, engulfed the orc village.

Front orc base: total ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠annihilation.

"Clear."

Clear complete, clean and simple.

But.

"...Huh?"

No “clear complete” message appeared.

"No, it hasn't cleared yet."

The viewers were baffled too.

No one knew why.

He double-checked the orc areas, but they were definitely wiped.

"...What's this?"

Then.

Beep!

"Huh?"

Ppeaaak!

Drong's body lurched toward the orc base.

"Whoa? Head that way?"

Nod nod nod.

It seemed urgent, so Haegyeom hurriedly followed.

Tap tap tap.

Drong waddled ahead with quick steps.

Following Drong led to the orc village.

It was scorched earth.

Obviously.

Drong's breath had hit it dead-on.

But...

"Huh?"

Something caught Drong's eye.

"It's alive?"

Haegyeom approached the 'something,' rifle at the ready, vigilance high.

A small creature, Drong-sized.

Its charred fur and skin radiated heat.

And it was breathing.

"......"

It looked like it would die on its own soon, so Haegyeom lowered his rifle.

The reason was simple.

"Doesn't seem like an orc."

The 10th floor mission was 'Subjugate Orc Village.'

This creature in front of him didn't seem to count.

And.

Prod prod.

Ppi...!

Drong poked it, and a will transmitted over.

"...You want to save it?"

Nod nod.

Drong gazed at him with pleading eyes.

Haegyeom set the rifle down and picked up the creature.

That instant.

Ding!

The 10th floor cleared.

"Uh...?"

And.

"?!"

He could now accept a new tenant.