Severance and Slaughter
"Ah, I finally feel like I can breathe again."
No matter how nice a hotel was, it couldn't compare.
Home. There was truly no place like home.
"I am glad you returned safely, Hunter-nim."
After polishing off the breakfast Do Sangjin had prepared, my sense of daily life finally returned.
"By the way, where did Jumin go?"
"Lately, he has been going to the training room at dawn."
"Wow, really?"
"Yes. It seems he was deeply moved by your words, Hunter-nim, about how physical fitness is crucial for a hunter."
What a good kid.
"Then please prepare whatever Jumin wants to eat for the time being."
"Understood. I will ask him and prepare accordingly."
With breakfast finished, I headed straight to the tower entrance.
"You returned safely!"
Despite all the talk about confidentiality, it seemed the Association staff already knew I had cleared a special floor in China.
"Yes. Were you waiting for me?"
"Of course!"
"Hahaha."
"You have no idea how empty the entrance felt without you, Hunter-nim!"
It was probably just polite small talk, but it still felt good to hear.
After a brief chat with the staff member, I entered the 29th floor alone.
As soon as I entered, I swept through the Orc army.
"Phew."
I took a light sip of banana milk.
"Ahhh."
Refreshing!
Actually, my goal today wasn't to clear the floor.
Click.
My real purpose was to test Jeol and Dan.
Since I couldn't predict what might happen outside, I had come inside the safe confines of the Babel Tower.
Calling the Babel Tower 'safe' was a bit ironic, but it was true.
I pulled Jeol out of its box.
It looked identical to Dan.
An unremarkable appearance, looking like nothing more than a rusty dagger.
Just like Dan, it was an S-rank weapon with absolutely no abilities.
I wonder what will happen when I combine the two...
I retrieved Dan from my inventory.
Gulp.
I felt tense for no reason.
[Synthesis Available]
Required Materials: Jeol / Dan / 10,000 Mana Stones
I placed Jeol and Dan into their respective slots.
And, I just happened to have exactly 10,000 mana stones...
I guess you could call that good timing.
Adding the mana stones I had just acquired from wiping out the Orc army, my total count was exactly 10,000.
When I selected confirm, a brilliant light began to emanate from both Jeol and Dan.
Flash!
Soon, a blinding light filled my vision, followed by a sharp thud!—the sound of something falling and embedding itself into the ground.
Squinting, I opened my eyes.
"Oh!"
A new item was stuck in the floor.
At first glance...
"...Scissors?"
The combined shape looked exactly like a pair of scissors.
The blade that severs the breath and ends life.
◈ [Jeolsik (Severance)] - Upon landing a critical hit, negates the target's skill activation.
◈ [Danmyeong (Shortened Life)] - Upon landing a critical hit, inflicts a status effect that prevents the target from recovering health.
Oh! Since they were dual swords, they had two passive traits!
And fitting for an S-rank, both traits were incredibly good.
In particular, Jeolsik would be of immense help on the higher floors, where monsters with troublesome special skills were common.
"Severing the breath and ending life..."
I like it.
Clack.
It seemed Jeoldanchamgeuk could be used either as a single sword or split into dual swords.
Since I preferred dual-wielding, I separated them and sheathed one on each side of my waist.
Was it because they were a pair? Even though they were separated, I could feel a lingering connection between them.
Once I got used to it, I might even be able to use one to locate the other.
It was a pretty interesting weapon. I'd have to study it thoroughly and make good use of it.
I ran through the tower a few more times to test them out.
Slash!
Screeech!
Stab!
Squeal!
The result?
Utter satisfaction.
It was as if we had been together for ages; my compatibility with Jeoldanchamgeuk was phenomenal.
Dealing with Orcs and Trolls was so easy it was almost boring. They died from the slightest graze.
Shhh...
Jeoldanchamgeuk seemed to have tasted its fill of blood. The blades gleamed brilliantly.
Time to head back.
I had a good enough grasp of what kind of weapon Jeoldanchamgeuk was.
Whoosh!
I returned, drenched in Orc blood.
After washing off the Orc blood in a hot bath and eating a hearty dinner,
"Hmm."
I looked up some information on Baek Harim, who would be joining our party, before falling fast asleep.
And the next day.
"Hello!"
Cha Yerin greeted me brightly when we met at the tower entrance.
"Did you have a good trip to China?"
"Haha, yes. It was fun."
"I'm glad. Honestly, I was a bit worried."
Worried, huh? Well, technically, there had been plenty to worry about.
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
"I couldn't bring back any souvenirs, but..."
"Oh, don't worry about that."
"I prepared something else instead."
I rummaged through my inventory and pulled out the items I had prepared beforehand: the Ripple Gloves and the Lich King's Crown.
"W-What are these?"
"Think of them as souvenirs. Go ahead and take them."
I handed the Ripple Gloves to Cha Yerin, and said, "You too, Jumin," as I gave the Lich King's Crown to Woo Jumin.
The Ripple Gloves were an item that absorbed impact and released it back, inflicting knockback and stiffness on enemies—perfect for a tank like Cha Yerin.
I had been concerned because Yerin didn't have any decent gear other than her hammer.
I knew exactly why she couldn't afford better items. Her finances must have been completely ruined from paying for her younger sister's medical treatments.
Of course, her raw skill was good enough that it hadn't been a major issue, but having proper gear would make her shine even brighter.
"I can't accept this," Cha Yerin said firmly.
"Just take it. It's actually a loss if I try to resell it."
But I was even firmer.
"But still...!"
"Just take it, and keep clearing the tower with me. That's enough."
I forced the Ripple Gloves into Cha Yerin's hands.
Then I turned to the kid.
"Woo Jumin, don't you go saying you can't accept it either."
"Hyung, I will accept this with absolute gratitude!"
What a rascal. I patted Jumin on the head.
After having the Lich King's Crown properly appraised and repaired, it turned out to be quite a decent item.
It came with a passive trait called Domain of the Dead, which turned any corpse killed by the user's damage into a sort of undead puppet.
It was a slightly creepy trait, but considering Jumin's debuffs dealt significant damage, it would be highly useful in many ways.
"Well, shall we go?"
We entered the 30th floor.
This was the floor where undead monsters began to appear in earnest.
Cha Yerin and Woo Jumin looked quite tense, but at the same time, their eyes sparkled with anticipation at the thought of using their new items.
"First, I'll show you as a test. Where to strike undead monsters, and how to clear them quickly."
Swish!
Screeech!
Slash!
Gasp!
Slice!
Shriek!
Somehow, every single one of them died instantly the moment I struck.
"...I don't think we can use this as a reference," Cha Yerin said, looking dumbfounded.
"Hahaha..."
I could only laugh awkwardly.
Was it because I was using Jeoldanchamgeuk?
"Let's retry."
For the second run, I used the crescent sword I received from Nairin.
"I think I can see it a bit better this time."
With fewer critical hits, the instant deaths decreased, allowing me to clearly demonstrate where their weaknesses were.
Phew. Being too strong was a problem in itself.
"Hyung, can I be honest with you?"
Woo Jumin asked with a serious face.
"Yeah. Go ahead."
"...Do you even need us?"
I was taken aback by his bluntness.
To be honest, he was right. At my current level, I didn't strictly need Cha Yerin and Woo Jumin. I was fully capable of sweeping the 30th floor all by myself.
But.
"Of course not."
Things would change as we climbed higher.
Even Choi Muryeong, the world's number three, didn't climb the tower alone. What did that tell you?
It meant that on the higher floors, clearing the Babel Tower alone was impossible. No matter how outstanding someone was.
For instance, even Leo White, the world's number one from the US, reportedly had about three parties centered around him.
That said it all.
Even the strongest person in the world didn't clear the tower alone. Rather, they couldn't.
That was why I was nurturing my party. Investing in them early on.
By securing trustworthy party members, I could enjoy a comfortable life climbing the tower.
Of course, neither Cha Yerin nor Woo Jumin had any idea about my ulterior motives.
"Hyung, Domain of the Dead is amazing!"
Woo Jumin was already thoroughly satisfied with the Lich King's Crown.
Every monster that fell to Jumin's debuffs became his puppet, acting as a bodyguard that moved exactly as he commanded.
For Jumin, who had always felt limited by his lack of offensive skills, there couldn't have been a better gift.
And with undead bodyguards protecting our precious healer, I felt much more at ease too.
Screeech!
"Jumin, watch out!"
Cha Yerin shouted toward Woo Jumin.
Thwack!
A skeleton soldier was sent flying by the Ripple Gloves, shattering into pieces.
"I-I'm sorry!"
Perhaps because it was his first time, Jumin's control over the undead wasn't perfect.
That was why Cha Yerin had to smash the skeleton soldier that was approaching her.
"Jumin, you shouldn't just be happy about getting a good item."
"Yes..."
Everything only shows its true value when handled properly.
"From now on, focus on controlling the undead."
"...Yes, sir!"
"You don't need to control multiple. Just one."
"Just one..."
"But perfectly."
"...Perfectly!"
Did he take the advice to heart?
Shriek!
Woo Jumin's control over the undead steadily improved.
"Hyung, look at this!"
When controlling just one, he could use it almost like an extension of himself.
He was young, so he learned fast!
"Pant, pant."
"Huff, huff..."
After training for a while, both Cha Yerin and Woo Jumin were completely exhausted.
"Shall we call it a day?"
The two nodded eagerly, as if they had been waiting for those words.
"How is the new item?"
Wiping away her sweat, Cha Yerin managed a weary smile.
"It's my first time having such a good item..."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "First the Elixir, and now this. I feel like I'm always on the receiving end..."
"Ah, that's not what I was asking about!"
"Still, I wanted to thank you again."
"Geez..."
I shrugged. "Managing team members is part of a leader's duty, isn't it?"
"I don't think I've ever seen a leader who buys items for their members, though."
"That's just because those people are cheapskates."
"Hahaha."
"I, on the other hand, am a generous man."
"It seems so."
Cha Yerin's face brightened, the burden seemingly lifted.
"Jumin, you think so too, right?"
"Of course. Hyung is the most generous of the generous. The ultimate boss."
Woo Jumin gave a big thumbs up.
Giving them those "souvenirs" was definitely worth it!
"Alright, then let's train hard again starting tomorrow."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
"But first, food?"
"Sounds great."
"Wow, let's eat meat! Meat!"
With Jumin's cheers, we returned.