Sturdy Stomach
"Ha-yeon, the milk's getting cold?" Hob said with a friendly smile. "You should drink it while it's warm."
He lifted the cup slightly, offering it to her.
Jack snickered beside him.
"Kukuk, the kid's being picky."
Jack propped his chin, looking down at Ha-yeon.
"If you don't drink milk at your age, you'll never grow tall."
His chuckling tone grated more than usual.
"...Won't grow tall, huh."
Ha-yeon muttered. This body was tiny, no doubt about it. With memories of her past life intact, it hit even harder. She'd towered over 180cm back then, a superior build. Now? Barely scraping 150cm.
I'm supposed to be fifteen—why am I so short? Grandpa Song Han-su looked over 190cm.
Probably malnourished and frail since childhood. Ha-yeon clicked her tongue inwardly.
"Kukuk, you won't make a great hunter at that height. Better grow up quick."
...This bastard.
He'd scratched right at her sore spot. It lit a fire in her. Ha-yeon finally lifted the cup.
"Fine, I'll drink it."
Gulp.
She swallowed a mouthful of milk. Right then—
"Cough—gack!"
Jack, sitting across from her, jolted like he'd been shocked.
"Guh—hack!—!"
He flailed, unable to steady himself.
"...Huh?"
Ha-yeon's eyes widened. Jack's face drained pale in seconds. Foam bubbled from his mouth. Textbook poisoning symptoms.
"Shit..."
So that's what felt off!
Her spine chilled. The milk she'd just drunk was clearly tainted.
"..."
Ha-yeon looked down at Jack.
"Jack, you acted like you knew everything..."
She muttered with a pitiful expression.
"Couldn't even detect the poison before chugging it?"
Jack's eyes bulged in his thrashing. Pure indignation.
Truth was, Jack had his reasons. His scouting skill wasn't just for paths—it detected enemies, nearby dangers, even poisons.
That's why the milk from Hob hadn't triggered it. So he'd drunk it.
But now? Poison coursed through him.
"Hack!"
Jack clawed at the ground, writhing. Watching, Hob slowly rose.
Still wearing that affable smile.
He approached Jack.
"Don't be so upset, Jack."
Soft voice.
"At least you'll have company—you won't be lonely."
"...Kuh."
Jack ground his teeth.
"Kukuk... Using poison..."
His eyes glared at Hob.
"What a waste of a tank... You filthy bastard..."
Hob shrugged.
"It's the Tower."
Calmly.
"This is how it is here."
Hob raised his foot. About to crush Jack's throat and finish him.
Clang! Metal clashed.
"...Hm?"
Hob's foot halted. Someone blocked it.
A small shadow. Ha-yeon.
Nelly's Dagger gleamed in her hand, faint blue light flickering.
Ha-yeon growled low.
"...That's far enough."
Tiny frame. But her eyes? No child's gaze.
Your stats are lower than the opponent's.
Nelly's Dagger effect triggered.
Temporary stat boost.
Strength +2
Agility +3
"The kid's too suspicious for her own good."
Hob muttered irritably.
"She should learn to take what adults give her."
That friendly face? Icy cold now. No more hiding the malice in his eyes.
Ha-yeon gritted her teeth.
"What about Enson?"
Brief silence. Hob twisted his lips.
"He's already fast asleep."
He tilted his head.
"Kukuk."
Mocking Jack's signature laugh outright.
"Back at the camp."
Ha-yeon's eyes chilled.
"I'll send you to join him soon enough."
Hob pointed at her.
"Just say hi."
"Like hell!"
Clang! Ha-yeon drew Nelly's Dagger.
She kicked off the ground, charging.
Her body felt lighter. Feet sprang off the earth. Dagger flashed.
"Kuh—!"
Hob's eyes widened.
"What kind of girl has this power—!"
He hastily raised his shield. Clang!
Hob staggered back. But he smirked again, twisted.
"Still."
Hob muttered.
"You drank the milk. My win."
Ha-yeon's eyes flickered.
"Just a little."
Hob wagged a finger.
"I saw you swallow it."
His eyes gleamed.
"Even a tiny bit of that paralytic is lethal. Takes time, but..."
Leisurely.
"It'll numb you from the extremities. Like an anesthetic."
Acting like the fight was over.
"..."
Ha-yeon gripped her dagger, catching her breath. Just that one clash told her plenty.
...He's weaker than I thought?
Hob's combat power wasn't far above hers. Less threatening than the red-tailed boars, even.
Strong, sure. Big. But slow, predictable attacks.
I can win. Easily.
The poison was the issue. Her gaze flicked to Jack—foaming, clawing the dirt.
Body paralysis...
Even a sip could kill in a fight. Fingers stiffen. Legs lock. One slip, and you're done.
...Damn it.
Ha-yeon clenched her jaw. Then—
Hidden class conditions met.
?? Path 1/? unlocked.
A strange system chime rang in her head.
Ha-yeon's eyes widened slightly.
Then another message.
Brief silence.
"..."
She blinked a few times. Checked her body slowly.
Hands. Feet. Breath. Heartbeat.
...All fine. Perfectly normal.
...The poison.
Realization dawned.
It doesn't work on me?
She could feel it instinctively. The milk—the paralytic inside—gone like it was nothing.
"...Ha."
A hollow laugh escaped her.
Hidden class quest. What Ji-hye had hinted at.
Eating food. Tasting it. Cooking. All those acts piling up.
Now, the trait unlocked.
Related to eating and drinking...
A word flashed in her mind.
No way.
Her lips curved slowly.
Eating. Cooking. Flavor. It all connected.
Hidden class...
Her eyes sparkled.
I'm getting the vibe.
Forgetting the battle for a second, she thought.
Wanna job change ASAP.
So damn curious. Her lips twitched up, intrigued by the hidden class.
Hob frowned at her expression.
"...What's so funny?"
He'd seen it. She'd drunk the milk. It had poison.
So why?
"...Why aren't you collapsing?"
Ha-yeon grinned.
"Who knows."
She twirled the dagger lightly.
"Maybe."
She shifted her foot. Body light as could be.
"My constitution."
Ha-yeon kicked off again. No hesitation this time.
*
Raiders. The most common—and dangerous—scum in the Tower.
They target fresh climbers from low floors. Pose as a party, slip in poison when you're off-guard.
Kill. Loot gear.
Hob hadn't started this way. He just lacked talent.
A cliché tale. Like countless hunters.
He climbed hard at first. Sweated, slew monsters, struggled upward.
Then hit a wall. Couldn't go higher. Monsters grew stronger; allies died one by one.
Death loomed. A dog's end. Obvious.
Couldn't quit, though. Debts bound him.
Debts left outside the Tower. Unpaid? His family—and him—doomed.
So he thought.
...Just this once.
One raid for gear. Climb higher.
Once. Again. One last time. And another.
Soon, it was life.
"Who cares."
Hob bared his teeth. Pure dreams? Long gone.
"Can't be picky with methods."
He raised his shield.
"If I wanna climb!"
Boom! The massive shield tore air, swinging.
Ha-yeon twisted aside. It grazed, slamming earth. Dirt flew.
"Kuh!"
Hob charged, shield-first—like a moving wall.
But Ha-yeon's feet danced.
Slide.
Slipped sideways smooth. Nelly's lesson.
Watch the prey's moves to the end.
Spot the gap.
Flash.
Dagger struck.
Slash! Hob's forearm gashed.
"Kuh!" Blood sprayed. He clenched teeth, swung shield again.
Clang! Dagger bounced.
But instantly—
Slash! Thigh this time.
"You...!"
Hob's breaths ragged. He had the strength. Size. Weapon.
Yet—Why?! Why can't I hit?!
She dodged like a rabbit, zipping every which way.
Then sliced him precise.
A feeling struck Hob.
"...Ah."
A sigh escaped. Familiar dread. First Tower climb. Facing a superior monster. Realizing no amount of struggle wins.
That emotion.
"...A wall."
Ha-yeon in his sight. Tiny. Under 150cm.
But her moves? Different. Combat sense? Different. Eyes? Hunter's eyes.
Stalking prey. Quiet. Patient.
"...Ha."
Hob laughed hollowly.
"Losing to a kid like this..."
He raised shield. Squeezed last strength.
"Me...!"
Boom!
Shield swung again. Ha-yeon's foot moved first.
Slide.
Into the shield's guard.
"!"
Hob's eyes bulged. Ha-yeon's voice whispered.
"Nelly said."
Dagger rose.
"Hunting."
Flash.
"Hesitate, and you lose."
Slash.
Deep into flesh. Hob shuddered. Shield dropped.
Thud.
Massive body crumbled.
"..."
Hob stared at Ha-yeon, hollow-eyed. Lips moved weakly.
"I... wanted to climb too..."
Ha-yeon snorted.
"Hmph. Using poison—what a joke."
"Kuh... krrk. You're right. Kukuku..."
Jack, poisoned and rolling on the ground, chuckled in agreement.