Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 016
Chapter Title: New Companion
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All around was darkness.
The only thing lighting the way ahead was the white trail.
Even that twisted and snaked every which way.
That was the labyrinth.
It plunged intruders into confusion and fear.
Threatening them with the monsters and traps planted inside.
Well, it wasn't remotely dangerous to me.
Kiiieek!
A labored scream echoed as I rounded the corner.
I looked down to see a monster.
Was it begging for its life? Or trying to land one last hit?
The thing had impressive vitality, reaching out with its hand.
Its skin festered and melted away.
Pinkish flesh mixed with muscle fibers. Grotesque.
Kkeaek...
With a final strangled cry, the creature died.
Only its sharp claw tip grazed my ankle.
"Oh."
By now, the scene was familiar, so I stayed nonchalant.
Just curious, really.
How had this thing lasted this long?
Thud. Thud.
I tapped the wall.
The labyrinth's walls were pitch black.
No sense of their thickness.
The monster I'd just killed.
Did the wall block some of the radiation to let it survive?
'I read about it in the book Kamiya bought me.'
The tower left plenty of time on my hands.
My body didn't even get sleepy.
Sleep was for recovery.
But mine recovered endlessly on calories.
In that positive loop, I read books.
That's how I learned about radiation.
'For some reason, my body emits more radiation than natural uranium.'
And it didn't discriminate by type.
From alpha rays to gamma rays.
Neutron radiation included, no doubt.
Even highly concentrated.
'My innate ability multiplies the calories from what I consume. Maybe it affects radiation too.'
My best guess.
Not exactly accurate.
Anyway, blocking my radiation is tough.
Lead, concrete, steel-layered walls.
Mix in water or polyethylene too.
Only then could it block it effectively.
'But does this labyrinth have shielding like that?'
'She said she tested it by punching the barrier.'
She went all out back then.
At least, that's how it looked to me.
She even used the skill from that old video.
But the barrier didn't budge.
Like an ant had nibbled at it.
'The tower's definitely designed around mana-wielding hunters.'
That confirmed it for me.
The tower was immune to modern weapons.
My innate ability-enhanced radiation? No contest.
"Where the hell is the door?"
I absorbed the corpse with my ring.
Then eyed the key.
It still pointed one way.
Minutes of wandering the labyrinth.
Seemed the destination was still far.
Thud. Thud.
It tugged like it wanted me to untie its bonds.
I gave in and followed.
"Fine, I'll humor you."
Lately, I was talking to myself more.
Humans are social creatures, huh?
I missed chatting with Kamiya.
'All around me is just death.'
The thought made me feel isolated. Lonely.
Always awake, just killing monsters.
No one to talk to, 24/7 every day.
"Is this dangerous?"
No idea. But I meet someone once a month?
Yurek Han. I have a conversation partner.
But no therapist.
They'd melt in seconds anyway.
A sudden unease made me scratch my head.
This wasn't sustainable.
Maybe because I'd bantered daily with Kamiya.
Having it then losing it made the thirst worse.
What's the point of getting stronger? If I'm alone.
My situation, position, pain, sorrow. Everything.
A life with no one to hear it.
"......"
A door finally appeared before me.
I was certain now.
I was in danger.
Could I last a year, two like this?
Doubtful if super regeneration fixed mental illness.
'Can't even experiment on that.'
Anyway, good news ahead.
A skull with a rose in its mouth.
Embedded in a sturdy steel door.
A massive round handle gleamed.
Clunk!
I yanked it.
A notification appeared.
Simple but firm message.
No way to open it—turn back.
Challengers would think it was the exit and be disappointed.
'But I've got this.'
The universal key in hand.
It quivered, begging to be inserted.
Thinking of it that way felt weird.
"Keyhole... right here."
I jammed it in.
Turned it.
Clicked perfectly clockwise.
Then click! The key popped out.
Said it was impossible just moments ago.
I smirked, watching the change.
The heavy iron door creaked open slowly.
Light poured out, contrasting the surroundings.
"Oh."
A gasp escaped as I peered into the light.
Greenery everywhere.
Vegetation after so long.
Untouched by human hands.
"All kinds of plants, trees. Even a little stream."
I stepped inside slowly.
The air was so fresh.
Phytochemicals or whatever?
I breathed deep, touching the weeds.
Up to my knees, they shied away from my hand.
...Huh?
Tried again. Still dodged.
Like same poles of a magnet repelling.
Not just weeds—others too.
The flowing stream, passing bugs.
They slid away at a distance.
"Heh, now nature avoids me too."
At least it didn't wither or die. Small mercies?
That's when I spotted something ahead in the forest.
A stone table, neatly made.
A sphere like a spirit orb hovered above it.
"Hidden reward here?"
Curiosity drew me closer.
A notification popped up.
What mission is this?
As I stared blankly, the sphere floated up.
Circling me with the spirit orb.
The explanation made sense.
Basically, use your power here.
Make it lusher.
Or reshape the terrain.
Or smash trees and nature.
Whatever—change it your way, and the spirit adapts.
'But my power...'
I looked around.
The grass and flowers no longer repelled me.
Trees shook.
Screaming now that protection ended.
My uncontrollable power dominated the area.
Paradise transformed.
Shhh!
Grass browned and withered instantly.
Leaves rained down, twisting.
The area became a forest of death in a blink.
"Whoa."
A destructive imprint, huh.
The Colorless Spirit changed color too.
Purple. Like a gate.
Lowest grade, I guess.
'So, imprint my power on this paradise.'
I was confident.
Just walking would do it anyway.
So I sprinted.
Until paradise became land of death.
Easier spreading radiation wide with control.
Paradise turned to dead land.
All plants killed.
The stream contaminated too.
What to call this?
Made me reflect on my status again.
'A walking disaster, literally.'
Killing monsters made it abstract.
This drove it home.
More convinced.
I absolutely couldn't leave the tower like this.
Must control it perfectly.
I vowed once more.
As promised, no longer colorless.
Full red.
No, more than that. Dark crimson?
The spirit had turned gate-like purple before.
Thought red was the end.
"Higher grade exists?"
Taking a while.
Like booting an old computer.
My imprinted radiation messing it up?
'Didn't use mana or other abilities.'
System's unfamiliar with it.
But it's trying hard.
Waited, and results came.
Unknown? Incomplete? As questions swirled, the sphere cracked.
A fairy floated before me.
"This is... a spirit..."
Sound asleep in green clothes.
First time seeing one up close.
Saw plenty on TV.
Spirit users just stood there, fights handed to them.
Spirits did all the work.
'So, can I slack off now too?'
Spirit orb left, spirit right.
Me in the middle, arms crossed, watching.
Easiest combat ever.
Lost in happy thoughts.
"Hey?"
Wondered if it understood speech.
No stir. Arm pillowed under head.
It floated up lazily, landing on my shoulder.
Like food coma defeat.
Curled in deep, unbreakable sleep.
"Mm..."
Not totally unresponsive.
Lips smacked, making sounds.
Wriggled at my call and touch.
Like a kid whining not to wake it.
Just burrowed between neck and shoulder.
"Heh, well."
A companion appeared out of nowhere.
Didn't feel bad.
Problem was not knowing when it'd wake.
"So that's what 'incomplete birth' means."
Still, it'd wake eventually.
Kept looking cuter.
Round face, little girl looks.
TV spirits were all fierce-looking.
This size? Lowest grade?
"Let's get along."
With my new companion, I left the former paradise.
An unexpected notification appeared.
The tower acknowledged the clear outright.
The labyrinth vanished, replaced by white space.
I grabbed the backpack that appeared nearby.
"Worried it'd vanish with the labyrinth. Glad it's intact."
Relieved inside, checked contents.
Everything there. Monsters hadn't found it.
Mana stones and rations fine.
"Mana stones... real double-edged sword."
From lowest to highest grade.
Akane gave me tons.
Only lowest useful.
Others just sat.
I turned to the reward.
"What's this one?"
Familiar chest.
But info totally different.
No effects, just the box.
Tower of Despair reward. Enhanced even.
Something amazing inside, probably.
Description said tough to open.
"But I've got this."
Tower underestimated me.
Stingy, making it hard.
I shoved in the universal key.
'Using it here leaves 3 uses?'
Key's remaining uses.
Slid right in.
Turned smoothly.
Clunk!
Chest so smug in description.
Now a flimsy box.
It popped open.
I checked inside.
"Pills?"
Reading the effect convinced me.
Mana stones were useless lumps.
This'd fix that.
Proper use incoming.
Checked the debuff next.
Saw which guild to hit.
"Taeguk Guild gets this."
Taeguk's leader, Kang Gut-geon.
He'd use it right.
'Kamiya told me. He properly stopped foreign Monster Impact.'
No doubts.
"What now..."
Korea's Hunter Management Bureau.
Manager Lee Seon-ho clutched his head.
Another one. Quiet for months.
Earth Quest back.
Giving him killer headache.
[Compete against towers in other regions.]
📍 Current Region Tower Monopoly Holder: JYS. Teammate: ()
⏰ Time Limit: [359:59]
🎁 Winner: Gains ownership of loser's tower for 90 days.
15 days prep time.
Victory reward this time.
Winner owns loser's tower for 3 months.
Loser twiddles thumbs for 3.
Gaps widen between nations.
Hunter levels differ too.
"Wait. JYS never left the tower?"
Monopoly holder picks a teammate.
To fight foreign monopoly holders together.
JYS had to choose one.
But he'd never exited.
Stayed inside all along.
"...How to pick a teammate then?"
Dizziness hit.
Visions of Korea's downfall.
Lee Seon-ho clutched his head harder.