Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 002
Chapter Title: Daily Quest
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Having earned three stat points from the daily quest, Han Jeong-woo briefly pondered before investing two in Strength and one in Agility. His body reacted immediately.
The arm pulling down the floating cement bag surged with power, and his footsteps felt subtly quicker. To think a single point or two could make such a tangible difference.
As he marveled at the effects of the stats, the burly man who had gone up to the third floor came running back from afar, freaking out.
"Argh! What the hell are you doing?! Lifting it like that will wreck your back!!"
At the man's fussing, Han Jeong-woo gently lowered the cement bag back to the ground. As gravity returned, it hit the floor with a thud, kicking up dust.
"Who the hell lifts cement bags from the front?! Is your back okay?"
"It's fine."
And it really was. To the burly man's eyes, it looked like a 40kg bag, but with gravity nullified, its weight was practically zero.
"But damn, you're stronger than you look. Most guys couldn't even budge it from the front."
"My family's in the business."
Han Jeong-woo couldn't mention his awakening, so he brushed it off vaguely.
"Yeah? That explains it... How about skipping the painting and doing grunt work instead? You get paid for what you put in."
What a terrifying thing to say. In the world of day labor, "you get paid for what you put in" meant grueling physical toil.
Of course, for an Awakener, that toil's difficulty dropped sharply. Especially for Han Jeong-woo, with his gravity powers.
Still, he had no interest in the burly man's offer. Simple reason.
Climbing the Tower paid way better. Tower runs netted fortunes incomparable to manual labor.
"Think it over. We team up—you and me. We'll take over every site in the country. Sure, it'll be tough... but the money? Nothing like what you're making now."
"Nah, Big Brother. Sorry, but no thanks."
Han Jeong-woo turned down the proposal without a second thought. He'd Awakened for a reason—he was climbing that Tower, not slinging paint forever.
The burly man looked disappointed but nodded, seemingly accepting his decision.
"Alright... Hit me up if you change your mind."
The burly man hoisted the last two cement bags and headed to the third floor. Han Jeong-woo was alone on site again.
Seizing the moment, he decided to examine his awakened abilities more closely.
First off, aside from his EX-rank trait, he had just one skill.
'Gravity Control'
A simple yet powerful skill that adjusted the gravity of targets excluding himself. Its current range was from 0 up to a maximum of 10x.
Duration was about a minute. It ended if his focus wavered or the target left his perception range.
'Gotta level this skill up soon.'
Higher levels might expand the gravity multiplier or let him control multiple targets at once.
'And to do that, I need to climb the Tower.'
Skill levels could only be raised with "Skill Enhancement Tickets" obtained exclusively from the Tower.
As Han Jeong-woo searched Tower info on his phone, Lee Jong-su returned from the hospital.
"Jeong-woo! What're you doing here? Let's go!"
"You're back quick, Big Brother. How's the body?"
"Good as new. Just bruises."
Lee Jong-su led Han Jeong-woo off the site.
"Why head out? No painting today?"
"Pushed to tomorrow. They told me to clock out early and rest. Partly my fault for skimping on the scaffold check, but looks like it was shoddily set up too. I mentioned bringing you along while I was at it. Covered for your situation too."
"For real? Company approved it?"
Han Jeong-woo's eyes widened. Deadlines were tight with backed-up projects. Site tension was ice-cold, HQ reps barking daily.
"Don't sweat it. I handled everything. Call it half-day leave. Let's grab a solid dinner."
A bit early for dinner, but they hit a nearby pork belly joint.
Sizzle... Red meat hit the grill, soon wafting savory aromas as it browned.
"Dig in...!"
Han Jeong-woo and Lee Jong-su devoured the pork belly wordlessly, like it was a race.
Once stuffed, Lee Jong-su quietly picked up a piece and spoke.
"Jeong-woo. Look for other work."
"...Huh? Outta nowhere?"
Han Jeong-woo froze mid-bite, staring in surprise.
"Not outta nowhere. Been thinking it watching you every day."
"You've never said that before."
Lee Jong-su downed a shot of soju and continued.
"Today... hit me hard. This grunt life makes you feel pathetic. First time I realized my life's worth so little."
His bitter expression turned the phone screen toward Han Jeong-woo. A single transaction notice.
"See? 500,000 won. My life's value. 'Shut up and take this.'"
"Big Brother..."
"Worse? I can't do shit about it. Get fired from here? Booted from the team? No one's hiring an old-timer like me."
Lee Jong-su knocked back another shot.
"...Ugh. But you're different. Young, options galore. Get outta here ASAP, find something else."
They finished eating in silence, bellies bursting as they left the restaurant.
"Jeong-woo, think hard on what I said. I'm off. Wanna get home early tonight for once, heh."
After seeing the tipsy Lee Jong-su into a taxi, Han Jeong-woo trudged to a nearby sauna.
Soaking in hot water, Lee Jong-su's advice looped in his head.
"...Other jobs, huh."
The dilemma didn't last long.
With an EX-rank ability Awakened, sticking to manual labor wasn't just inefficient—it was stupid.
One hang-up: parting from Lee Jong-su, like a father and friend.
But even he had pushed Han Jeong-woo to leave today.
No more hesitation. Perfect time to quit the grind.
Mind made up, Han Jeong-woo left the sauna and headed straight to a motel for Tower entry.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Would you like to enter the Tower?] Korea's Tower loomed in Gwanghwamun Square, but Awakened could enter anytime, anywhere.
Exiting worked the same. Bail if it got impossible.
Staring at the system message, Han Jeong-woo entered without hesitation.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [You have entered the 1st floor of the Korea Tower.] Blink—and the scene shifted. No dingy motel room, but pitch-black void all around.
"...Whoa!"
First-time wonder drew an exclamation from Han Jeong-woo.
But awe faded quick. A new message appeared.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Mission: Defeat one Rock Goblin.] The window faded smoothly, blinding light pierced the dark, revealing a strange arena.
Snapping to, Han Jeong-woo stood center of a circular coliseum. Ahead, a green-skinned monster half his size clutched a rock, glaring fiercely.
Skinny limbs, child-sized. A goblin.
"Goblin...!"
First real monster face-to-face. Weakest foe even non-Awakeners could handle, but tension gripped him anyway.
Messages followed in rapid succession.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Issuing tutorial weapon for 1st floor.] [Choose one: Sword, Bow, Spear.] Why he'd entered weaponless. Floor 1 was tutorial—provided basics.
No real debate; he picked the sword. Never handled any, but it seemed easiest.
Choice made, light coalesced into an iron sword from thin air. Hefty, utterly ordinary.
Grip it—and the goblin charged, yellow eyes flashing. Instinct kicked in; Han Jeong-woo activated his skill.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Gravity Control Target's gravity increased 10x
Next instant, Han Jeong-woo held his breath at the gruesome sight.
The goblin collapsed, clutching its throat, writhing in agony before expiring.
"...Urk."
First kill ever. Nausea roiled, hands shook at the horror.
But he deep-breathed, steeling himself.
Stepping into this world meant facing it, getting used to it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [1st floor cleared!] [Evaluating clear rank.] Clear rank factored time, damage, overall performance.
Naturally, finger-untwitched Rock Goblin slayer Han Jeong-woo's was—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Achieved SSS clear rank on 1st floor.] [Enter name for ranking registration.] "...Jackpot!"
Top rank.
Thrills raced through him, mind sharpening.
First "report card" since dropping out of high school.
Among thousands of Korean Awakeners, only three had ever hit it.
Korea might buzz, but he didn't care.
Set nickname not to his name—no one could trace it.
Short deliberation, then input.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Registered as 'Mutant.'] Lee Jong-su's nickname for him, encapsulating Han Jeong-woo himself.
Third parties guessing his identity from it? Near impossible.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Proceed to 2nd floor?] Floor 2 kicked off real climbing—no more tutorial weapons.
"But... do I even need a weapon?"
10x gravity was one-shot anyway. No reason to hesitate.
Straight to Floor 2. Another circular arena.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [You have entered the 2nd floor of the Korea Tower.] [Mission: Defeat three Rock Goblins.] Three this time. Before they could raise rocks, his skill fired first.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Gravity Control Target's gravity increased 10x
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Gravity Control Target's gravity increased 10x
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Gravity Control Target's gravity increased 10x
Goblins pancaked to the ground, flattened.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Achieved SSS clear rank on 2nd floor.] [Reward: Acquired 100g Mana Stone.] A small, shimmering purple stone appeared. He snatched it and bailed from the Tower.
Flash!
Back in the motel in a blink.
"Huff... haa..."
Han Jeong-woo collapsed onto the bed. Breath ragged, limbs leaden, strength drained.
"This... mana depletion?"
He'd read about it earlier. Exhaust all mana, pass out like total fatigue.
Not fully depleted, but close. One or two more skills, and he'd have blacked out.
Passing out mid-fight on Floor 3? Horrific thought.
"Good thing I checked ahead."
Face in pillow, grin crept up uncontrollably. Tower thrill lingered.
Korea's fourth SSS. That was him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Next morning, Han Jeong-woo woke at motel checkout.
Quit the site yesterday.
As temp labor via agency, no issue giving notice. Lee Jong-su approved, said it was smart.
Out of the motel, he headed to a pre-scouted realtor for a cheap studio. Government aid from house collapse covered deposit.
Just as he stepped toward it—
📜 DAILY QUEST 📜 [Clear the Tower's 3rd floor. (SSS rank or higher)]
⏰ Time Limit: 4 hours
🎁 Success: 3 Stat Points
💥 Failure: Mana depletion exhaustion
"Clear Tower Floor 3... SSS rank or higher."
'Insane difficulty quest.'
Any average Awakener would think so.
But for Han Jeong-woo, fresh off SSS on 1 and 2? Totally doable.
Eyes locked on the reward.
3 Stat Points.
Same as yesterday's, but post-depletion, it gleamed different.
"Wait... Pump Magic Power with those points?"
Solve mana capacity, and he'd outpace any Awakener up the Tower.
That thought spurred his steps onward.