The Hamster Legion and the Administrator's Grin
Why did you do that to me? A new change had come to my monotonous morning. A change for the worse, that is.
The Saintess of the Sun God Cult says that morning prayers should be done together.
“Right….”
I worried that if I kept performing morning prayers for a Sun God I didn't even believe in, I might end up meeting him sooner than expected. From what I knew, the Sun God’s personality seemed a bit… eccentric.
The Guardian of All Things whispers that you should be careful of cults.
The Captain of the Twelve Stars shakes their head.
Haha… it’s nice that things get lively every time a new Transcendent joins, but I’m already worried about how many I’ll be dragging around later. …What could possibly go wrong?
“Then, I’ll get to my homework today….”
Just as I was about to enter the Tower, my phone rang. I checked the number; it was Director Lee Naeun.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Lee Suhyun, would you happen to have any time today…?”
Because of what happened last time, she gets extremely nervous every time she calls, which makes it a bit uncomfortable for me as the receiver. Well, I did make a pretty big mess of things, didn't I? That’s understandable….
“I was just about to enter the Tower, but I think I can spare a moment.”
“T-then I’ll send a car for you right away! It’ll only take a moment! Really!”
“Yeah, sure… go ahead.”
“Thank you!!”
Anyone watching would think I was their master. About five minutes after I hung up, the doorbell rang. I got up, opened the door, and was greeted by familiar-looking female employees.
“Hello, Mr. Lee Suhyun. We’re here from the Association to pick you up.”
“Right, let’s go.”
When I arrived at the Association and entered the lobby, Director Lee Naeun was waiting.
“Mr. Lee Suhyun!”
As soon as she made eye contact with me, she rushed over and bowed her head!?
“I am so sorry about that time! I should have told you in advance, I am truly sorry!!”
Her booming voice drew the attention of everyone in the lobby, and I was so flustered that I grabbed her shoulders.
“It’s fine, so please lift your head!”
“Are you… are you forgiving me…?”
“I’ll forgive you, so please, just lift your head!”
“Yes, yes!”
Unlike her cold-looking first impression, she seemed like she had a screw loose. What on earth happened to her since then…?
As if she hadn't been looking dejected a moment ago, she guided me with a bright smile. I thought we were going to the Director’s office, but we weren't. We went up another floor. Where was this?
“The Association President asked to speak with you, Mr. Lee Suhyun, so I am guiding you there.”
“The Association President?”
“Yes.”
The President of the South Korean Awakened Association. The person sitting at the center of power wanted to see me…. I hoped it would lead to a good relationship, but if not, I’d have to flip things upside down once again. I really hoped it wouldn't come to that.
We got off the elevator and entered the President’s office. A man with a sturdy build stood up and welcomed me.
“Nice to meet you. I am the Association President, Lee Gukhan.”
“I’m Lee Suhyun.”
The President, who had been stroking his long beard, reached out to me. His hands were as large as his build. As I shook his hand, I felt his grip strength. He was a muscular man who looked like he could bench press 700kg. He smiled and told me to take a seat. Was he going to offer me protein instead of tea?
“Would you prefer strawberry or chocolate flavor?”
“E-excuse me? For what?”
“Hahaha, for the protein, of course.”
He actually guessed it.
“…Chocolate, please.”
“Good choice. I prefer chocolate as well.”
Before long, he handed me a glass filled with chocolate protein, stood up, and bowed at a 90-degree angle!?
“A subordinate’s mistake is also the superior’s responsibility. I apologize once again, Mr. Lee Suhyun.”
“It’s fine. That matter is already settled.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
With those words, he sat back down and got to the point. We talked for about 10 minutes, and to summarize it briefly:
‘South Korea currently needs a new hero and a beacon of hope.’
“Would you be willing to be officially appointed as an S-rank Hunter for our country?”
I tapped the table to organize my thoughts and nodded.
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“I will let you know once the official date is set. And on behalf of the citizens, I would like to express my gratitude. Thank you for protecting South Korea… our country.”
As soon as I returned home after the talk at the Association, I shouted to get my overdue homework done.
“Enter.”
South Korea: Moving to the Black Tower.
My vision shifted in an instant, and the massive tower appeared before my eyes. As I approached and opened the door, a message popped up.
Will you challenge the 26th floor? Yes / No
“Yes!”
Scenario quests from the 21st to the 30th floor will now proceed. Please be careful, as the monsters that appear vary by floor.
At that moment, a message appeared.
The Heavenly Realm and the Demon Realm propose a 'Scenario Integration' from the 26th to the 28th floor.
The Administrator has approved.
Scenarios from the 26th to the 28th floor are now integrated.
26th ~ 28th Floor Mission: Win the Heaven-Demon War!
📍 Time Limit: Unlimited
🎁 Success Condition: Eliminate Angels and Demons.
🎁 Failure Condition: Failure to kill or death.
🎁 Restricted Equipment: None.
🎁 Restricted Protocols: None.
So they integrate it as soon as I start now? I could only let out a dry laugh at the absurd situation. My mind was dominated by the thought that I would smash this place to pieces today and use my interview ticket to grab the Administrator by the collar.
“Let’s smash everything and go grab the Administrator by the collar!”
The Guardian of All Things says they will help.
The Captain of the Twelve Stars shouts, asking why you're helping instead of stopping him.
The Saintess of the Sun God Cult says this, too, is the Sun God's arrangement.
Haha… this is a total mess. With a bright light, I was dropped right in the middle of a vast plain. There wasn't a single ant in sight. Based on my experience, a horn would sound soon, and an army of angels and demons would appear.
At that moment, as if waiting for it, a horn sounded.
‘Pwooooooo!’
The sound of the horn echoing across the plain didn't give away their location, but when I turned my head to check all directions, I realized why. Monsters were swarming in from the east, west, south, and north—it was coming from all sides.
I never imagined this!
“Help me.”
Fate's Timeline - Thousand Memories activated.
Transcendent: 'Shadow Queen' appears.
My shadow grew larger and larger, and something popped out. That something was… a hamster…?
A giant hamster stood on its hind legs, raised its front paws, and greeted me!?
The Shadow Queen greets you, saying it's nice to meet you.
“N-nice to meet you?”
The Shadow Queen asks what kind of help you need.
“Uh… could you deal with the monsters swarming in?”
The Shadow Queen says that is as easy as lying down and eating sunflower seeds.
With a sound like “Nyooooo!”, the giant hamster’s shadow spread out, and countless hamsters emerged from within. They were about 2 meters tall. Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of hamsters appeared, swords and shields in their hands.
The Shadow Queen summons her legion.
Isn't this a legion of hamster soldiers, not a legion…?
The giant hamsters that emerged from the shadows spread out and slaughtered the angels and demons. It was a sight so shocking it had to be in the top 3 of my entire life. More than anything, they were incredibly good at fighting. They dodged attacks with agility that didn't match their giant size, and when they struck down with their swords, the monsters were split in half.
…What on earth did I summon?
The Shadow Queen roars.
“Nyooooooo!!!!!!”
Grants the legion the monstrous strength to crush boulders.
“Nyoooooooo!!!!!!!”
Grants the legion the swiftness to cut through storms.
“Nyoooooooooo!!!!!!!!”
Grants the legion eternal, inexhaustible stamina.
The Shadow Queen was even casting area buffs. No, the hamster was. Just as the buffed hamsters were hunting monsters at a speed incomparable to before, a message appeared.
The one who keeps the balance of the Tower watches with curiosity.
“Administrator!? Now is not the time to be watching like that!? Why do you keep raising the difficulty!?”
The one who keeps the balance of the Tower tilts their head, asking if it isn't good that you can climb faster.
“It’s not good at all!? Look at this right now!”
Where I pointed my finger, thousands of monsters were appearing anew.
“It’s only the 28th floor… no, the 26th floor, and what is this difficulty!?”
The one who keeps the balance of the Tower asks what the problem is.
“Are you really asking because you don't know? Should I use my interview ticket!?”
The one who keeps the balance of the Tower tilts their head, saying they really don't know.
…I will use my interview ticket today.