An Unexpected Connection
"Forgive an old man for saying this, but looking at you brings back memories of the past."
Memories of the past.
Hearing those words, I couldn't help but ponder the weight of the memories the Association President carried.
Once, long ago—before I was even old enough to properly comprehend the world—
South Korea had been thrown into utter chaos by the emergence of the Tower and various magical anomalies.
Of course, if that hadn't happened...
...there would have been no reason for Han Sae-ah and me to live through such a bleak, miserable childhood.
"Kang Woojin."
"Yes?"
"I was a hunter once, too. I climbed the Tower and faced the deaths of countless comrades to reach where I am today."
A hunter.
The emotion flickering in the Association President's eyes was a faded fragment of the past.
They were the eyes of a man who had accumulated so much negativity that it had festered inside, leaving behind deep, permanent scars.
In a way, they resembled the eyes of my childhood friend back when she looked as if she were carrying the weight of the entire world on her shoulders.
Slurp.
Taking a slow sip of the coffee in front of him, the Association President turned his gaze back to me.
"But what I really wanted to say is this: forced summoning upon awakening was not an uncommon occurrence even back in my active days."
"I seriously thought I was going to die."
"Haha, it truly is a relief. I'm glad you survived so we could sit down and have a chat like this."
He's softer than I expected.
He had emitted an incredibly intimidating aura when we first met, but talking to him like this actually helped me relax.
"I heard you've known Hunter Han Sae-ah... since you were children."
"Ah, yes."
"For another talent of her caliber to emerge in the same generation is nothing short of a blessing."
"Oh, I wouldn't go that far—"
"I decline your modesty."
"..."
"Isn't that a popular phrase among the younger generation these days?"
"Haha, you're absolutely right!"
Saying "No, it's not" would be amateur hour.
This was the perfect moment to deploy some business etiquette.
This was the Association President, after all.
If I built a good rapport with him now, wouldn't it pave the way for a much brighter future?
"Anyway, the reason I wanted to speak with you privately is..."
The Association President picked up a remote control and pointed it at the screen mounted on the wall.
Whirrr...
The screen flickered to life, displaying diagrams and charts summarizing South Korea's current situation.
The single "Black Tower" currently threatening the nation.
The Korean hunters climbing it, and going even further—
"Oh."
Though they weren't Karrmia and Lisha, hunters from other dimensions sharing similar traits were also visible.
"You must already know from experience. Climbing the Tower is not just our problem... it is a challenge shared with worlds from other dimensions."
"I know that all too well. I've experienced it firsthand."
"And that is exactly what surprised me."
Soon, the screen was filled with information all about me.
Seeing it blown up that big is kind of embarrassing.
I suddenly felt naked.
Staring at the giant, close-up shot of my own blank, dazed face, I felt a sudden urge to smash the screen.
"To maximize the efficiency of climbing the Tower, hunters from different dimensions have the authority to bypass certain procedures and interface with organizations in other dimensions. That is the most fundamental rule we have established among ourselves."
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
This active intervention, born from the mindset of "let's save the world first!"—
"And early yesterday morning, a request arrived from another dimension asking for your personal information."
"Oh, really?"
"...?"
What? Was that not the reaction he expected?
The Association President stared at me in surprise for a moment before a smile played on his lips.
"You are quite trusting."
"Trusting?"
"Believing in beings from another dimension is not an easy thing to do."
Well, I suppose so.
Even if someone from another dimension messed up, they could just play dumb and hide in their own world.
Our friendship is still solid, right?
Thinking of the two who were probably thinking of me somewhere, the existence of the Community suddenly came to mind.
You cannot access the Community yet.
I know.
I probably had to enter the Tower first.
Putting my disappointment aside, I decided it was time to get to the point.
"First of all, I understand that the Association and you, President, view me as a special case."
"Naturally. We can't just leave a talent like you to fend for yourself."
"So, what happens to me now?"
"I am aware of the curse placed upon you. In exchange for being chosen by the Tower, you will be summoned periodically."
"...Did that happen to other people too?"
"Of course."
So other awakened hunters went through similar things.
"What are they doing now?"
"They aren't much different from other hunters, really. They either die in action inside the Tower, or they return safely..."
So the general pattern was the same.
Aside from the sudden kidnapping, there wasn't much difference from regular climbers—
"However, you are different."
"Pardon?"
"Among all the awakened, you are the only one who has survived the Apocalyptic difficulty."
Apocalyptic.
It felt a bit odd to say this since I had already cleared it, but that difficulty was truly absurd.
If Beginner and Normal difficulties were challenges and hardships within reasonable limits...
...the Apocalyptic difficulty was downright malicious, practically screaming, "I'm going to make this as brutal as possible, let's see if you can survive."
"That is why every single piece of data you possess is invaluable."
"...How did you know I was dragged into the Apocalyptic difficulty?"
"At the exact moment of your summoning, a massive magical anomaly occurred in the area."
Beep.
The Association President pressed a button on the remote, and the screen showed a crimson aura surging around the Black Tower.
"The timing was too perfect. Under normal circumstances, magic of that color would never flare up."
"Ah..."
"But do not worry. We are keeping a tight lid on your personal information."
Since the area surrounding the Black Tower was strictly monitored and controlled by the Association anyway...
...there was no way for the general public to analyze the magical anomaly.
He was telling me that my identity was still being carefully protected by the Association.
Nice.
"Therefore, the Association—and myself—have very high expectations for you."
I think I understood what was going on now.
Basically, it boiled down to this.
"So I just need to keep climbing the Tower like I've been doing?"
"Indeed. And, if you are willing to share a bit of information and cooperate with us..."
The Association President paused, locking eyes with me before continuing.
"The Association is prepared to offer you full support. Not just access to facilities reserved for hunters, but other privileges as well."
"...Oh."
It sounded like the Association was offering to be my backer.
When we first sat down, I couldn't have felt more uncomfortable—
...but now, I felt as relaxed as if I were lounging in my own living room.
"Your time will be limited from now on."
"I suppose so."
"The time of a hunter tackling the Apocalyptic difficulty must be absolutely protected."
That was why he was offering to be my ultimate safety net.
That was the proposal the Association President was making.
"I'll do my best."
"That is all I ask."
After wrapping up our mutually satisfying meeting...
...I left the Association headquarters and headed home.
"Whoa, crap! You scared me."
"You're back?"
I locked eyes with Han Sae-ah, who was still loitering in my apartment.
"Hey, aren't you going home?"
"I'll take care of it."
"?"
What exactly was she going to take care of?
Dumbfounded, I stepped inside and noticed a spread of food on the table, clearly prepared by Han Sae-ah.
"What about your guild?"
"Already went."
"If you're done, you should go back to your own place. Why are you here? It's cramped enough as it is."
"I'll take care of that too."
"Look at this attitude."
"Anyway, sit down. Eat."
As we naturally began eating—
"...What did they say at the Association?"
"Oh, you know, it wasn't bad."
I got a temporary identity, a solid backer, and guaranteed social stability.
Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a more satisfying outcome.
"Hmm..."
Han Sae-ah narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious of my reaction, but I beat her to the punch.
"Hey."
"What?"
"You probably already know this, but I have to go back into the Tower eventually."
"..."
"So, don't pull a stunt like this next time, okay? Don't go crying and making a scene just because I'm gone."
"W-Who did that...!"
Han Sae-ah protested, her face flushing red as she likely recalled yesterday's events.
But then, as if suddenly remembering the reality of my situation, her expression darkened.
"Hey. I literally just mentioned it, and you're already looking like it's the end of the world."
"But...!"
"I don't know if you'll believe me, but it's actually pretty manageable."
I spoke while thinking of my skills.
Seriously, despite the brutal difficulty, the skills I had were incredibly overpowered.
Not that anyone here would believe me if I told them.
"I actually came out as the top hunter over there, in my own way."
"...Stop lying."
"It's true."
"..."
A brief silence fell over us.
I knew that no matter how lightly we joked, the reality of me being forcibly dragged back to the Tower remained unchanged.
That was why her stubborn, worried pout refused to fade.
"...Don't die."
"Who's dying?"
"If you die, I'm going to die too."
"Hey, watch your mouth."
I must have raised her wrong when we were kids.
She was saying some seriously terrifying things.
"Oh, right. And I made some good friends in there."
"...Friends?"
"You know how you can use the Community once you're inside?"
"Yeah."
"We chatted a bit, and then I met them in person in the Waiting Room. They're pretty cool."
Karrmia and Lisha.
Thinking of the two of them, with their unique appearances unseen on Earth, put my mind at ease.
Even though we were on different difficulties, just knowing there were people climbing the Tower alongside me...
...offered a strange sense of comfort.
"...Are they girls?"
"Yeah."
"Girls?"
Clack.
Han Sae-ah suddenly stood up and glared at me.
"Whoa, what's with you?"
"Kang Woojin."
"What? What is it?"
"You aren't, right?"
"Aren't what?"
"If you get any funny ideas, you're dead. Seriously. Got it?"
"This crazy girl is starting again. Hey, am I a kid? I can take care of my own business!"
After somehow calming down my childhood friend, who had once again had her weird switch flipped—
...the two of us went to bed as usual.
4 days remaining until the next entry into the Tower.
Over the next three days, I met up with Choi Ban-jang for drinks, and hung out here and there with Han Sae-ah, who had taken a vacation.
And just like that, another night arrived.
...
"Oh, right."
I glanced at the magic stones rattling in the corner of my room.
I needed to hand those over to the Association to get them processed.
In the modern world, magic stones were worth quite a bit of money.
There was a reason why laborers got so excited about finding even a tiny fragment of magic residue on site; it was easy pocket money.
Furthermore, magic had a mysterious property...
...that could unlock new possibilities for hunters.
Ring.
"...!"
Just like right now.
Predator's Domain (Lv.3) is reacting to the Goblin Champion's Magic Stone.
Would you like to use this magic stone?
Upon use, a skill slot will be added to Predator's Domain.
"Oh."
I was already disappointed that I only had two slots, so this was perfect.
The moment I hit confirm, the magic stone rolling in the corner of the room crumbled into dust with a soft rustle and vanished into the air.
├─ Slot 1:Judgment Strike ✓
├─ Slot 2:Shadow Slash ✓
└─ Slot 3:(Empty) ★
My reliable skill list had expanded.
Staring at the empty slot with satisfaction, a thought crossed my mind.
I want to fill this up before I go back in.
And at that exact moment...
Click.
"I'm back."
"Hey, you keep walking in here like you own the place..."
"...? What."
My gaze locked onto Han Sae-ah.
She swallowed hard, looking strangely tense.
"Hey."
"Y-Yeah?"
"Before I go back in, let's do some skill testing."
"?"
What are friends for, right?
I intended to figure out the limits of this ability before my next departure.