A New Recruit
The undisputed strongest Hunter in South Korea.
Choi Muryeong.
He had never once let go of his position as the nation's number one.
His world ranking was a staggering third.
In other words, even on a global scale, the number of "humans" who could defeat this man could be counted on one hand.
"..."
Still, even if that were the case...
Was it really right to just corner someone like this without even a greeting?
"I don't think my skills are quite at that level yet."
I still answered politely.
There was no benefit in getting on the bad side of someone like him.
"If it is a matter of level, I told you that can easily be resolved."
Was he talking about carrying me up to the 40th, or even the 50th floor?
"I don't really want to climb the Tower that way."
"..."
His eyes seemed to say, What a naive, carefree thing to say.
"Are you aware that the entire world is pushing forward to conquer the 70th floor?"
"Yes."
Of course I knew.
Currently, the United States was making endless attempts to clear the 69th floor.
As for South Korea, they were repeatedly trying to clear the 66th floor.
They were surely trying various methods, but for some reason, they couldn't make any progress past the 66th.
Japan, with the help of the United States, had passed the 66th floor and was currently targeting the 67th.
Because of that, rumors were starting to circulate that we might also need to seek help from the US before a Demonic Outbreak occurred.
For me, the Tower and clearing the 60s had always felt like stories from a distant land, so it still didn't feel real.
But if they were in a position to make such an offer to a newbie who had barely cleared the 10th floor, they must be truly desperate.
Well, that was about the extent of my thoughts on the matter.
"I know it well."
"And yet, you are refusing?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Because I don't want to. It's my choice.
I probably shouldn't say that, right?
I scratched the back of my head and came up with a plausible excuse.
"It's not even guaranteed that I'll grow as much as you expect..."
"..."
"And if I don't meet those expectations, you'll just discard me, won't you?"
"..."
"Then I'll end up as an empty wagon—high level, but knowing absolutely nothing about the Tower."
"..."
"Who's going to take responsibility for me then?"
"..."
Choi Muryeong remained silent.
It seemed I had hit the nail on the head.
Indeed. I probably wasn't the first to be offered a ride on this so-called "bus."
There were undoubtedly more than a few Hunters who had been chewed up and spat out.
I also don't like the idea of them raising me to suit their own tastes...
To put it bluntly, I would just be entering as Choi Muryeong's backup.
They'd test me out once, and if they didn't like me, they'd swap me out immediately.
Sorry, but no matter how desperate they were, I would pass on that.
"Well, if the opportunity arises someday..."
"..."
"...we might meet again after I've climbed up with my own strength."
By then, you might be the one acting as my backup, kiddo.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"..."
"Well, excuse me then."
I gave a polite nod.
Fortunately, Choi Muryeong didn't press further and stepped aside.
I had worried he might try to hold me back, but I managed to return to my lodgings without any trouble.
"...You are truly magnificent."
"Pardon?"
"The way you spoke so confidently in front of Hunter Choi Muryeong..."
This was the first time I had seen Do Sangjin look so full of admiration.
Hmm.
Well, I suppose.
Choi Muryeong was South Korea's number one Hunter.
And I was...
It's embarrassing to even compare us.
I had only just cleared the 10th floor.
My level was barely 15.
So it must have looked even more impressive to him.
"I only spoke the truth," I said, shrugging my shoulders.
You had to learn step-by-step for it to truly become your own skill.
Besides, if I joined them, it was obvious I'd have to cater to their every whim.
I'd rather break through to the 60th floor solo.
Because I'm confident.
It wasn't empty bravado; I genuinely meant it.
I didn't know much about the 60th floor range where everyone was struggling, but I was confident I could make it to the 50th floor even on my own.
The higher I climbed, the more new skills I would acquire.
The same went for items.
My luck with chest drops was terrible, but I could cover that with the shop.
I was also supposed to receive the Danjeon pills from Japan.
If my party members and I worked hard together, wouldn't we easily reach at least the 30th floor?
And in my party, I was the main damage dealer!
"Hehehe..."
Just thinking about my party members suddenly put my mind at ease.
"Sangjin-ssi, please submit a party application for tomorrow."
"Do you plan to enter immediately tomorrow?"
"Yes. There are a few things I want to test out."
My body had changed a bit, so I wanted to sync up with my party members again.
"Understood."
Leaving the application submission to Do Sangjin, I took a long bath in hot water.
Since I had the effect of the Deep Sleep Socks, I washed even more thoroughly.
And then...
Slide.
After getting ready for bed, I slipped on the fluffy Deep Sleep Socks.
*Rustle.*
Because I slept with a waterproof plastic sheet under the blanket, the rustling sound was a bit annoying, but what did that matter?
Just by sleeping, I got free Danjeon training!
*Zzz...*
Having caught the rental fraudster, I stretched my legs out comfortably and fell asleep.
"What?!"
Thanks to the Deep Sleep Socks, my body felt light.
After washing up and completely clearing out the buffet at the cafeteria, I headed to the entry point, only to let out a scream.
An entirely unexpected situation was waiting for me.
"Taepyeong-ah, to be honest, going past the 10th floor is a bit too much pressure for me..."
"Hyung, I told you I'll carry you!"
"I'm sorry. I have a girlfriend I'm going to marry, and..."
Yoo Inseok had declined to climb past the 10th floor.
No, rather than a refusal, it was a resignation.
Instead of challenging the floors in the double digits, he had chosen the path of a veteran healer who partnered with rookies on the lower floors.
That way was safer and more stable.
On top of that...
"I'm sorry!"
Kang Dakyung had also dropped out of the party.
"I received a scout offer from somewhere else..."
Apparently, a guild had offered her a massive signing bonus.
In truth, her current pay was rather low compared to her skills.
It's a good thing for the two of them, but...
My stomach churned at the thought of losing two party members at once.
Damn it!
I thought we clicked so well.
I thought that instead of luck with chests, I had been blessed with good luck in party members!
"Well... it can't be helped."
Still, it was a good opportunity for them. I couldn't cling to them.
I decided to accept the situation coolly.
Actually, there was a reason I could afford to be cool.
"Don't worry. I'll help you."
Our tank, Cha Yerin, had stayed.
Sob.
Thank goodness.
Thank goodness...
But even so.
We still need two more.
A healer and a supporter.
Setting aside the supporter for a moment, a healer was absolutely necessary.
However, healers were such a rare resource...
Will we be able to find one?
For the time being, it wasn't like we couldn't get by just chugging potions, but still.
Anyway, according to the talent acquisition team, there was a "supporter" who could join us.
A curse-user, apparently.
"Sigh..."
So today, instead of the planned 11th-floor run, we decided to do a light re-clear of the 9th floor to test the new party member's skills.
Fortunately, since it was below the 10th floor, Yoo Inseok agreed to participate as our healer for this run.
"Hello..."
While we were chatting in the waiting room, someone walked in.
Their head was bowed low, so I couldn't see their face clearly, but they looked young.
And somehow familiar?
They seemed to say something after their greeting, but their voice was so quiet I couldn't hear it properly.
"Nice to meet you," Cha Yerin said, offering a handshake first.
"I'm only participating for this run. Haha," Yoo Inseok shook hands next.
And finally, me.
"Hell—"
I reached out my hand, but the pale face I caught a glimpse of was...
Way too young.
"How old are you?"
My question flustered the other person.
"I-I'm seventeen..."
Seventeen?
"A high schooler?"
Looking closely, his clothes weren't a suit but a school uniform.
If he was seventeen, wasn't he a high school freshman?
But why was he here?
"Isn't this illegal?"
"Ah, this kid is a bit of a special case."
"Special?"
Listening to the government official's explanation, it clicked.
"Are you the kid from back then?"
"Yes..."
A while ago, when we caught the rental fraudster.
He was the kid who had been held captive in that building.
Back then, his face had been covered in blood and his clothes were a total mess, so I hadn't even realized it was a school uniform.
His face looked fine now. Did the Bureau patch him up?
"T-Thank you so much for back then..." the student said, bowing his head.
Honestly, it wasn't something I deserved thanks for.
I had gone there to catch the rental fraudster, not to rescue this kid.
"What's your name?"
"W-Woo Jumin..."
Woo Jumin.
"Woo Jumin? Haha. Sounds a bit like 'alien' in Korean. Interesting."
"Hyung, your name is one letter away from 'ape'. Shut it."
Ignoring Yoo Inseok's dumbfounded face, I asked, "If you were there, then you..."
"Y-Yes..."
A Tower-climbing slave.
Hearing the details of his story, it turned out Woo Jumin's parents had run away after racking up massive debts.
Climbing the Tower was illegal for minors.
However, having been handed over to an illegal organization, Woo Jumin wasn't in a position to care about legality.
He was immediately forced into the Tower.
Whether it was good luck or bad, he managed to survive the Tower thanks to his decent abilities, and he was even on the verge of clearing the 10th floor.
In other words, because he actually had some skill, the Bureau had taken Woo Jumin in despite him being a minor.
As a "special case."
"Still, a minor is a bit..."
At my words, Yoo Inseok chimed in.
"There's talk that they'll pass a law allowing minors to climb the Tower soon anyway."
"No matter how desperate we are, do we really have to mobilize kids?"
"It's better than South Korea suffering a Demonic Outbreak."
"..."
I had nothing to say to that.
"I-I'm okay..."
What was okay?
"I-I want to do this...!"
Climb the Tower?
"...Didn't you say back then that you wanted to quit?"
"Ah, b-back then... I was alone and scared, and they took all my items..."
"..."
"I felt like I would really die if I went into the 10th floor like that..."
Clearing the 10th floor empty-handed.
And as a supporter, no less.
That wasn't a clear attempt; it was a suicide attempt.
"Look, even so..."
"I-I heard you're a really strong Hunter...!"
"...Me?"
"Yes! S-So..."
I glanced at the government official instead of the stuttering Woo Jumin.
The official avoided my gaze.
Just what on earth had they told this kid?
"I-I have area-of-effect skills, too..."
"..."
"I'll definitely b-be of help...!"
An AoE debuff skill.
It wasn't bad.
But still, taking a high schooler into the Tower was a bit...
"No, even if you just keep running the lower floors, you can make a decent living—"
"I-I want to get strong...!"
Woo Jumin grabbed my hand tightly and shouted.
There was a resolve in his voice that didn't belong to a child.
Was it because of everything he had suffered?
"..."
Not bad.
I nodded, then pointed toward the entry point.
"Then, can we go in right away?"
"Y-Yes...!"
He hesitated, but his answer was firm.
"Jumin-ah."
"Yes..."
"I won't go easy on you just because you're young."