Starting Village: Den of the Doomed
The Starting Village, home to the training camp on the first floor, was where all Earth-born adventurers began their journey in the Tower World. But it had another name: the Village of the Doomed.
Anyone who properly completed the training camp didn't stick around. With the money they got upon graduation, they could easily head up to the major cities on the fifth or sixth floors. The Starting Village wasn't large enough for production-class folks to find decent jobs— they had to reach at least the mid-sized cities on the second or third floors for that. In other words, most people lingering in the Starting Village were those who had failed the training camp, third-rate adventurers, or the outright rejected. Aside from a few with specialized professions, everyone left there was trash-tier.
"Could you maybe take me at least to the third floor? Or even just the second?"
"I'll do whatever you ask. I'm good in bed too."
"I'll handle any job. Just please let me into your party."
As Namgung Seojun's party exited the training camp, scantily clad women latched onto them. The doomed ones— penniless women who couldn't even escape the Starting Village— were begging desperately.
Training camp graduates, still clinging to Earth's common sense, sometimes took pity and helped these failed women reach higher floors.
"I'm so hungry. Could you spare just 1 silver?"
"Buy me one meal, and I'll serve you until tomorrow."
"Don't you need a girl tonight? I can make you feel good."
"I don't need money. Just spend tonight with me."
Many begged outright or blatantly offered their bodies. In the Tower World, countless women survived by selling themselves. After just a year in this alien realm, the harsh reality sank in: for incompetent women, prostitution was the only option, and pregnancy was a blessing.
Once pregnant, the temple of the life-valuing goddess provided food, shelter, and care. They even offered room and board for half a year post-birth, and if the mother gave up the child, the temple raised it. Plus, merit points for bringing new life into the world! Incompetent women aimed to get pregnant through whoring, then used the earned merit points to buy good skills and land jobs.
Namgung Seojun's party firmly rejected the women's fleshy onslaught. They followed and pleaded as the party moved, but couldn't enter the inn.
"Whoa, this world is really something else."
It wasn't just the waiting area and training camp that were weird. Tower women were aggressively seductive when luring men.
"We gotta adapt."
The party members nodded at Namgung Seojun's words. They first secured rooms at the inn.
"Six private rooms, please."
The innkeeper made one request. "Training camp graduates, right? Show me your completion certificates."
Inns offered free stays for a month to graduates, so after showing proof, they got the keys right away.
"Rooms 401 through 406 for the men."
Seojun handed out keys and said, "Unpack in your rooms, then come down. We'll grab lunch at the first-floor lobby restaurant and scout the fields a bit."
Everyone nodded. After a light lunch at the inn, Namgung Seojun began an important discussion.
"First, let's draw up the contracts."
He passed out pre-written contracts, and the members read them carefully before starting.
Adventurers forming parties and signing contracts was commonplace. These were temple-bought contracts guaranteed by the goddess— signatures had to be deliberate.
"First up, revenue split."
He pointed to the relevant section. "Party revenue: 40% goes to party funds, 60% distributed to individuals."
That 60% was split among the six, but not equally.
"Among combatants, inviters me and Lee Guho get 1.1; standard fighters Gisohee, Jo Jaehun, and Yuki get 1.0; porter Kim Hoon gets 0.8."
In other words, Namgung Seojun and Lee Guho: 11%; Gisohee, Jo Jaehun, Yuki: 10%; Kim Hoon: 8%.
The others just nodded, but timid Yuki spoke up softly. "Um... porters usually get... half of a combatant's share..."
That was the standard she'd learned at the training camp. Porters got 0.5 if fighters got 1.0. Yet Seojun was giving Kim Hoon 0.8.
Her tiny voice carried in the quiet, heard by all.
"I get the standard logic. If opinions differ in our party going forward, we'll go by majority vote. Let's do that here too."
Everyone agreed, and the vote proceeded naturally.
"Hands for my proposal?"
Gisohee, Lee Guho, and Jo Jaehun raised theirs. Excluding Seojun, Yuki, and Kim Hoon, it was unanimous.
"My proposal passes."
Revenue split settled. He covered other clauses.
"Contract term: until we reach the 20th floor."
Standard for low-floor contracts— until jobs were acquired.
"In the field, absolute obedience to me as leader."
Unusual, but proposed by Seojun, the safest guide via Super Sense and strongest fighter.
"For party recruitment, no adds if I veto."
With God's Eye, he wouldn't accept harmful members.
"And..."
Seojun only highlighted key clauses. Many were non-standard, but the party— having seen his perfection in the group tutorial— trusted and skipped over them.
Why's no one saying anything?
Timid Yuki pushed on. "Um, field commands..."
Seojun was firm. "Yes, absolute obedience in the field. Unless it's 'kill yourself,' follow them. That's our party's baseline."
"Party recruitment feels off too."
"To avoid mediocrity."
Finally, her selfish bit. "Isn't until the 20th too long? How about 10th floor?"
Gisohee replied coldly. "Ha. Yuki, got a conscience now?"
"Huh??"
Gisohee stayed icy. "Be real— you're total trash. Barely hold a shield in combat, half-useless buffs outside Lee Guho. Subpar fighter at best. We're taking you on future potential, and you complain 20th is too long?"
"……."
Yuki went silent, but Gisohee's fact-bombs continued. "10th floor? Fancy way of saying you'll bail at level 10. Standard clauses everywhere else, but tweak term for yourself? Selfish much."
The table froze. Yuki squirmed, exposed.
"Sohee, ease up. Too harsh on Yuki?"
"Wake up, you pushover! Whose side you on? That bitch charging you?"
"....."
Lee Guho shut up. Seojun pushed forward in the silence. "Final check, then sign."
All signed the goddess-guaranteed contracts. Yuki last, head bowed. Done.
The party headed straight to the field entrance to sync up on the first floor.
With Seojun leading, they patrolled. Forty minutes in, he sensed enemies.
"Enemies 600 meters ahead. Goblins likely, about 10."
They geared for battle. "We'll fight together this time."
Formation set, they awaited the goblins. Spotting the party on patrol, the goblins screeched instinctively and charged.
"Kwek!"
The party met their rush with composure.
Puk! Kek!
Seojun, as free-roll dealer, picked off goblins one by one.
Bang! Kwek!
Lee Guho fired spells under Jo Jaehun, Yuki, and new Kim Hoon's defense.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Kaek!
Gisohee's cautious support arrows joined. Goblins dropped fast. Five minutes, all cleared.
"Whew... Battlefield cleanup!"
As they looted, Seojun reviewed. No ranged on their side, free-roll dealer works? Goblins too weak for certainty.
Another possibility emerged. They roamed four hours: four fights, 18 goblins, 20 kobolds down.
"Head back."
Seojun hated camping day one. Before dark, they returned. Temple for merit points, sold junk loot at temple shop for 5 silver.
"Settling now."
2 silver to party funds, 3 split by ratios to members.
As they dispersed post-settlement, Lee Guho said, "Dinner and drinks?"
To ease awkward vibes, others agreed. Seojun and the men showered quick, hit the lobby restaurant.
The vibe was night-and-day from lunch.
Mellow music played as micro-bikini-clad waitresses greeted with smiles. "Welcome!"
Blatant sex appeal; Kim Hoon grinned wide, but Lee Guho, Jo Jaehun, even Seojun flushed a bit.
Seated, a waitress approached smiling for orders. "Room keys? Graduates, huh. Meals and drinks free. Order up."
She bent low, cleavage on full display. Her breasts bore text:
◈ 20 min: 10 bronze
◈ 2 hrs: 20 bronze
◈ 1 day: 1 silver
These waitresses served food but whored if customers wanted.
"Four dinner sets and four beers."
Seojun stayed cool; she smiled, confirmed, and added, "Free anytime extras needed. Good girls cheap too!" Winking brightly, she left.
Gisohee entered soon after. "That bitch didn't show."
"...."
Men silent at her edge. She eyed the vibe, slutty outfits, flirty laughs, and jabbed, "This Tower World..."
Shaking her head, she ordered simply.
No Yuki by meal's end.
"Everyone looks beat. Call it?"
Seojun broke the awkwardness; Gisohee grumbled. "Ugh, that antisocial bitch ruined the party mood."
"Sohee."
"...."
Silence. Seojun took her and stood. "We're heading up."
They left. Kim Hoon called first. "Hey, miss!"
The targeted Asian beauty hurried over. "Yes, sir!"
He groped her breasts and ass. "Good, right? Top service? Tight grip?"
"Yes! Best ever."
"Then?" Hand straight into her panties.
"Ahng..."
Feeling her tightness, Kim Hoon nodded. "Nice. With me."
1 silver paid, he took her out first.
Kim Hoon's move hyped the waitresses. Eyes on Jo Jaehun.
"Heh heh..."
He laughed; they swarmed. "I'm the best. Sex queen here."
"Anything you want. Pick me."
"Or two? Sisters servicing."
Jo Jaehun picked one he liked and headed up.
Ordinary Tower life.