The Siege of the Hamster King
Shock and horror, you little rascals!!!!!
[The Guardian of the Tower's Balance says this is a perfect balance.]
After checking her message and watching the swarm of monsters being hunted down by the hamsters, I was left speechless.
Balance... I guess it is, technically.
"Ahem, it’s only this easy because it’s me. If it were anyone else, they would’ve died ages ago."
[The Guardian of the Tower's Balance says the 26th floor isn't usually this difficult.]
"See! I knew my difficulty setting was messed up!"
[The Guardian of the Tower's Balance says they have urgent business and leaves the scene.]
With that, they ran away.
Just as I was left dumbfounded, I heard the voice of the Shadow Queen.
"Nyo-ooo!!"
I turned my head to look at the Shadow Queen, and she was pointing somewhere with her front paw.
I looked in that direction, and a gate was forming, with a massive arm bursting out of it.
Just how huge is it for its arm to be that size...?
[The Shadow Queen requires 'Authorization'.]
Authorization...? Ah, could it be that?
"I authorize it."
[The Shadow Queen summons her legion.]
"Nyo-ooo!!!"
At the Shadow Queen's cry, the hamsters that were fighting broke off from the front lines and began to gather in one spot.
Tens of thousands of hamsters merged into one, and something massive began to reveal itself.
[Shadow Queen's Retainer: Ham! Ham! Ham! Ham! Ham! Ham! Ham! Ham! Ham! Hamsimus has appeared.]
"Haaam!"
A hamster of a size incomparable to before.
His eyes glowed red, and—wait, is he firing a laser!?
'Zzzzzzzzzing.'
The laser pointer locked onto the monsters emerging from the giant gate, and with a deafening roar, the laser was fired.
K-BOOOOOOOOM!!!
Not just the monsters, but the gate itself vanished without a trace, and even the remaining monsters flinched and retreated.
"Ham-ham."
That day, the monsters remembered.
The terror of the giant hamster.
"Haaam."
His eyes glowed, and monsters exploded one after another.
...I almost feel a little sorry for them.
Hamsimus was even gifting a laser to the very last one.
At the same time, a message appeared.
[Congratulations! You have completed the quests from the 26th to the 28th floor!]
[Achievement Unlocked: Ham! Ham! Ham! Ham! Hamster!]
[New record achieved from the 26th to the 28th floor!]
[Would you like to register for the Hall of Fame?] Yes / NO
"Yes."
[You have been registered in the Hall of Fame.]
[Hall of Fame rewards are being distributed.]
[Due to the integration of the 26th to 28th floors, an integrated special ability is being granted.]
Congratulations! You have acquired the Special Ability: 'Mana Refining'!
Mana Refining
Grade: Undetermined
Effect: Improves the quality of acquired Magic Stones. One step up!
Oh, that's a decent ability.
...Would it get better if I reinforced it?
"Inventory."
I took out the acquired Magic Stones to check their grade, and to my surprise, they were C-grade.
These usually only drop from the 31st floor onwards, but thanks to my special ability, I was able to get them early.
For reference, a C-grade Magic Stone is worth anywhere from 50 million to 100 million won.
I’m really going to be sitting on a pile of money now.
...But I have nothing to spend it on?
"Nyo-ooo."
[The Shadow Queen says she will return now and bids you farewell.]
"Ah, before that, I have one request."
"Nyo-ooo?"
I approached the Shadow Queen—or rather, the hamster—and stared at her, and she tilted her head.
"Just once... could I hug you just once...?"
I want to feel the sensation of that fluffy fur!
"Nyo-ooo."
[The Shadow Queen says let's meet again next time.]
With those words, the hamster was enveloped in a brilliant white light.
"Noooooooo!!!!!!!!"
It was autumn.
South Korea Awakened Association, Association President's Office.
Association President Lee Guk-han was checking a forum post.
[Breaking News) Hall of Fame rankings up to the 28th floor have changed.]
They're climbing 2-3 floors at a time, are they insane?
So who the hell are they?
Didn't the Association say they'd announce it soon?
Don't hide!!!!!
Are we saved now?
He looked at Director Lee Na-eun, who was standing in front of him, and she bowed her head.
"Did you see the post?"
"Yes, I did."
The person at the center of the firestorm.
The new S-rank hunter and the protagonist who updated the Hall of Fame up to the 28th floor.
Awakened Lee Suhyun.
The day to reveal him to the public had arrived.
"Let's begin."
"Understood, Association President."
Director Lee Na-eun bowed and left the office.
About 10 minutes after she left.
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