Tutorial's Too Easy, But the Rewards Are Insane (3)

"Would you like to move to Pilgrim's Tower?"

That was the message floating in the shimmering notification window.

There was Challenger's Tower too, so why single out the hardest one? 'Is it because it's a steal if I don't grab it?'

One of my Mythic traits, Dominator. It lets me turn captured boss monsters into summons. So yeah, it makes sense to catch the strongest ones possible.

But Pilgrim's Tower wasn't a "might as well" kind of place. That was the problem.

Gulp.

'Survival rate of 50 percent...'

I recalled a broadcast I'd seen before. An interview with an awakener about the boss on the first floor of Pilgrim's Tower. Half of the people who challenged it never came back.

It might sound doable at first glance. But it absolutely wasn't.

And now it was telling me to go there?

'Hell no.' I shook my head immediately. Not even a second of hesitation.

'Normal Tower, maybe. Hard mode? Nah.'

And it wasn't just talk. Why could I steamroll everything? Because of my hard-mode specs applied to the Easy Tower. That overwhelming stat gap.

In other words, my specs matched those of Pilgrim's Tower climbers perfectly. Clearing hard mode on easy mode was impossible.

'Sure, I could brute-force it with my traits... but no, too risky.'

One more thing. The awakeners who died on the first floor of hard mode? You think they picked that place with Common or Rare traits? No way. Only idiots who don't value their lives would.

They all had at least Unique traits, no doubt. And even they dropped like flies.

No matter how good your traits, one moment of carelessness can end you. Even survivors spat venom like, "Don't pick Pilgrim's Tower," or "If I challenged the first floor again, I'd die."

Having grown up hearing that crap since I was a kid, why would I ever go there?

'Plus, it's just the first floor anyway.'

Finally. I'm planning to keep climbing towers nonstop. Easy Tower up to 50 floors, then Normal after that. Bosses get stronger as you go up, obviously.

The first-floor boss of Pilgrim's Tower looks like a mountain now, but it'll become a molehill someday. Risk my neck to summon it? When even the third-floor Normal Tower boss would smoke it?

Sounded dumb to me.

'Se-rin loves this stuff too. The first-floor boss here.'

Part of it was for my sister. No need to force it.

Not chickening out or anything, okay?

'Alright then...'

"Shall we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠get going?"

I dismissed the notification window. Then headed to the portal again.

Fwoosh—!

Stepping into the rippling light, my vision flooded with white...

'Just like they said.'

I'd arrived on the boss floor. The dungeon-like interior welcomed me. Every floor was the same—sealed on all sides, only portals to progress.

Trapped alone with a boss-grade monster. But I wasn't tense at all.

"Abigail~ Where are you~?"

I called out loudly. No caution, totally chill. For good reason.

'This one's got no aggro.'

Survival rate for challengers here? A whopping 100 percent. Among Beginner's Tower (aka Haanamja's Tower), this was the tamest.

Downside: super fast. Catches you if you run. But still a million times better than the acid-spewing Pilgrim's Tower boss.

"Come out quick, and I won't make it hurt..."

"Kyuuuung?"

"Oh, there you are."

Sure enough, a cry echoed. I turned, locking eyes with the fox monster.

The boss of Beginner's Tower floor 1: Abigail.

"Hm."

'Level 25, weakness is...'

I figured I'd experiment with my traits properly against this one, but...

"Kyuuuuuuuuuuung!!!!?"

"...Huh?"

My plans vanished at that shrill scream. I looked over.

Abigail was pulling some unknown pattern.

Boing.

"Kyuuuuung!!!!!"

"Backtumble!?"

Three consecutive aerial flips to start, then...

"Kyuuung... kiiiiiing...."

It wedged itself into the corner of the boss room. Even covered its ears with its paws and cowered. Shivering pitifully.

"......"

'What the hell.'

Mythic traits—why do they keep pulling out insane stuff? I hadn't even swung my sword once.

The monster was trembling on its own.

'Well, makes sense.'

Level gap was nearly 150. I'm over 7 times its level. A monster way beyond Easy Tower specs shows up, so a measly first-floor boss freaks out? Totally understandable.

I sighed involuntarily.

'Kill that thing...?'

Even running around would be better. Swing at a quivering fox? Tough sell.

"Hey, Abigail."

"Kyuuung...."

"Can't you just surrender or something?"

I tossed out the words. Never heard of clearing without killing it, but this whole situation was unprecedented anyway. Maybe it'd work.

"Kiiing, kiiiing?"

Did it understand? Abigail flopped belly-up. Legs splayed, whining pitifully. Classic surrender pose.

I didn't expect much, but...

"...Oh."

It worked out on its own. Portal opened way over there—clear recognized. Mythic traits are straight-up broken.

'Name, huh...'

I crouched, scratching the fox's belly. It whined but didn't resist. Fully submitted.

Looking down at it, I named it without much thought.

"Pinkie, how's that?"

"......"

"Pinkie."

"Kiiing... kiiiing...."

"Huh?"

What was with the grumpy reaction? Does it understand people?

"Kyuu if you like it, whine if you don't."

"Kiiing!!!"

"Grumpyrat?"

"Kiiiing!!!"

"...Now whining means yes. Pinky it is."

"Kyuuuung!!!"

"Ho ho."

Look at this little smartass. Understands me? Or maybe because it's my summon. Either way, useful for entertaining Se-rin.

"Alright then..."

* * *

Naming took another five minutes or so.

"Do-hwa. Means peach blossom. Whaddya think?"

"......!!! Kiiing!! Kyuuung, whiiiine!!"

I'd been throwing out random ones, and suddenly the pink fox bolted up. Tail wagging like a dog's. Fur flying everywhere.

'Eh, she likes it. Cute.'

"Do-hwa. That's the one."

"Kyuuuung~."

As Do-hwa rubbed her cheek on my hand, I reached out with the other to caress the notification window.

Fwoosh—!!

Golden energy enveloped us.

"...What's all this now."

Tons of notifications. Hard to take in at once. But nothing bad.

'Knight? Vassal acquired?'

My Dragon Knight trait boosted her. Level up 20, nice. Not combat-ready yet, but...

'Evolvable too.'

Summons from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Dominator can be fused to evolve this cutie. Like awakening or limit-breaking in those gacha games I never whale on.

Good stuff anyway.

'Okay...'

"Do-hwa, head back for now. I'll show you to my sister later."

Sending her off first. Cute, but shedding everywhere.

Summon mechanics popped into my head the moment I got her, so no fumbling.

"Dismiss."

"Kyuuuung!!"

I reached out, and her body melted into the air. She'd pop out anytime I call.

My eventful first-floor clear wrapped up with a new summon: Do-hwa.

'Gotta grab the rewards though.'

"Shall we?"

Step, step.

I stepped into the new portal.

Entering the safe zone between floor 10 and the boss floor...

"Free loot jackpot."

I shamelessly devoured Pilgrim's Tower rewards. Sell those potions alone for a fortune. Plus a title boosting all stats. No wonder moths scream "Coffin here we come!!" despite the hellish difficulty.

'I'll freebie the Stigmata too.'

People might come at me with pitchforks, but whatever. I can barely believe this myself.

'Still doesn't feel real. Maybe grab a bear bun at the site to snap out of it.'

"Sigh... gotta do what needs doing."

I reached into my inventory.

Riiip—!!

The weapon choice tore open...

"Ooh!"

A fancy sword now in my hand. The kind fantasy royal knights wield—screams "I'm expensive."

Flexing urge hit hard. Classic "beep boop" time.

'Public channel, post it there?'

"Mob drop, is this good?" Title in mind, grin wouldn't quit. But...

"...Ah."

Right, I hadn't switched towers yet. Flex mood killed.

Even if they chose it, most here die or will die. Not villain enough to stir shit.

'Let's peek.'

Clicked the top post. One of the few Korean ones, 9 comments too. Curious.

Click.

The post popped up.

"...Hwang Hee-chan?"

'Korea's current #1 awakener?'

I'd just witnessed the nation's strongest pledging his life.

Pilgrim's Tower 39F safe zone. Korea's highest climb record...

'I could get there in thirty clicks.'

Easier than the hill behind my place. For the awakener trapped there.