Meat is a Serious Matter

With the appearance of the Tower, the world changed.

Towering structures that pierced the heavens suddenly sprang up one day—in the middle of cities, in deserts, even out over the ocean. These Towers appeared without warning, shattering humanity's accumulated common sense and order in an instant.

Monsters of unknown origin poured out from within, and those who conquered the Towers emerged clutching strange ores.

Magic Crystals. Crystals infused with mana. A completely new energy source that overwhelmed traditional fossil fuels and electricity in efficiency.

The discovery of Magic Crystals turned the world upside down once more. Power plants shut down one by one, replaced by Magic Crystal generators. Factories, transportation, communication infrastructure—every foundation of civilization reorganized around Magic Crystals.

Failure to adapt meant extinction; it was nature's law and the world's natural order. Nations and corporations that denied or ignored the Towers crumbled, while those who embraced them survived.

And the Towers brought yet another change.

People who could enter the Towers. People who could fight monsters and wield mana. They were called Hunters.

Hunters became a profession, assigned ranks, and Tower conquests evolved into a national industry.

The early days were chaotic. Countless sacrifices followed, and the Towers were always places brushing against death. Yet humanity pressed on. The Towers were danger, but also opportunity—and Magic Crystals were the only fuel propelling humanity forward.

Thus began the era of living alongside the Towers.

Tower Climbing Gallery. A community where Climbers scaling the Tower shared all sorts of info.

A post went up there. In summary: the quest mob horned rabbits weren't spawning in the tutorial floor.

Perhaps because it was such an unprecedented case. Views skyrocketed, and working Hunters' tongues started wagging.

The answer came ten minutes later.

*

A dimension filled with darkness. Amid gazes floating like stars, one scene zoomed in.

The view adjusted. On the screen—a petite girl waving to someone.

"Then bye, Jenny! I'll come again, so don't wait too long!"

"Who's Jenny?"

"Oh."

A light chuckle. The Constellation of Play, Weaver of Comedies.

"Finally leaving, eh!"

"Mm."

Another gaze reacted subtly. The Observer, Silent Watcher.

"...Isn't that... Nelly…?"

"Yep."

The Play one propped his chin.

"Low-floor manager NPC. Any Climber who's gone a bit knows her."

"That prickly Nelly…."

The Observer's voice trembled faintly.

"…got conquered…?"

"Conquered."

A firm voice. The Constellation of Challenge, Valuer of Trials.

"Handed over her weapon. That's submission."

Play snickered.

"Countless Climbers tried and failed, but this kid broke through!"

Nelly was notoriously hard to befriend among low-floor NPCs. Countless male users hit on her for being the cutest early NPC, all shot down. An impregnable fortress, conquered by a tiny girl.

"Fun, so fun—!"

Play gazed at Ha-yeon with delight.

"Weak to cuteness like me, maybe?"

The Constellation of Adoration, Collector of Cuteness, tilted her head.

She'd swept the Beginner's Forest like a reaper, disrupting the ecosystem—but Ha-yeon's appeal was undeniable. Silky hair to her waist. Big eyes. Lips parting slightly when focused.

But looks alone wouldn't sway Nelly.

"Cuteness isn't everything."

Challenge stated firmly.

"No way that NPC moves for that."

"Oh, Nelly!"

On screen, Ha-yeon extended her hand as if remembering something.

"Gotta give potatoes!"

"What?"

"You forgot the last reward potato!"

"You and your potatoes to the end…."

Nelly grumbled, handing one over.

"…Potatoes again?"

The watching Observer sounded exasperated.

"Waaah."

Ha-yeon chomped right in.

"…."

"…."

"…."

A strange silence fell among the Constellations.

"…That."

Observer ventured carefully.

"…looks so tasty…?"

Ha-yeon ate potatoes every time. It could seem gluttonous or unappealing, but it wasn't. Compelling, even. Her eating made you hungry too.

"Right?!"

Adoration jumped in.

"Look at that cute face! Pure bliss!"

"……."

Challenge frowned.

"…Just a baked potato. No reason for that reaction to low-grade grub—."

He paused.

"…Why."

Challenge muttered low.

"…Can't look away."

"Heh heh, you fell for Ha-yeon's cuteness too, Challenge!"

"Guh, no way! This is, this is witchcraft!"

Play burst laughing at Challenge's shout.

"Totally contagious. The type that draws you in just watching her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eat."

"…Is that… charm…?"

Observer asked.

"Probably."

Play replied lightly.

"Not just eating well—it's sincere."

On screen, Ha-yeon chewed thoroughly, guarding her potato fiercely.

"Sincere about eating…."

Observer murmured.

"…That's why we keep watching…."

Then—

Play snapped his fingers.

"Ugh, can't take it!"

Pop—a potato floated in sub-space.

"Shall we try?"

"…What're you on about."

Challenge snapped shortly.

"Eating potatoes!"

"Wha."

"We… don't eat…."

Observer said cautiously.

"Normally, no need."

Play grinned.

Hesitant Constellations—but Adoration bit first.

"Wonder what it tastes like? Just one bite…."

She nibbled carefully.

"…Oh."

Eyes widened.

"Warm…."

Observer followed.

"…Soft…."

"Feels weird…."

"Come on, Challenge, your turn!"

Left alone, Challenge eyed them, then grabbed it.

"…Pointless."

Nibble—then verdict.

"…Not bad."

"Better than expected?"

Challenge sighed.

"…Influenced by such triviality."

Constellations. No need to eat, no hunger.

Yet here they were, eating potatoes—watching the blissful girl on screen.

*

"Lemme see, Red-Tailed Boar…."

Meanwhile, tutorial done and on 2F, Ha-yeon flipped open Nelly's low-floor monster guide, leaving fond Beginner's Forest behind.

'Party hunt, huh….'

Reading Nelly's guide, Ha-yeon paused.

She was on 2F, fresh from tutorial. No proper gear, beginner experience only.

Deep Mountains upper wasn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for new 2F Hunters. It was for those who'd hit 5F village, leveled some, partied up on rumors.

Close to Beginner's Forest—and pure meat lust drove her straight here. A real pickle.

'Came this far… give up meat?'

Samgyeopsal, boiled pork, jokbal, dwaeji bokkeum, pork kimchi jjigae. Endless dishes from boar flashed in her mind.

Slurp—drool pooled.

Meat's delicious even just grilled. Too wasteful to quit now.

"Call for backup?"

Briefly considered leaving Tower for hospital help.

But barely 30 mins on 2F.

'Kinda hurts my pride.'

Decided to solo first.

'Worst case, beg then.'

Hospital folk adored her cuteness lately. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Whine enough, they'd help.

At Deep Mountains entrance, an old man blocked her.

"You, trying to enter these mountains?"

"Yes."

Leo Ric, 2F mountain guardian NPC.

The NPC elder Leo Ric tried sending Ha-yeon back.

"Red-Tailed Boars roam here."

"I know."

"Solo needs at least 5F Climber."

"……I'm 5F."

"5F?"

Leo Ric eyed her dubiously. Tiny frame, no armor, greaves, gloves—just shabby cloak. Pure newbie look.

Let her in, she'd die pointlessly to beasts. Couldn't ignore as guardian.

Then—

"Hm? That dagger…?"

Ha-yeon's waist dagger. Spotting the engraving, Leo Ric's eyes widened.

"No way… Nelly's Dagger?"

"...? Yeah, Nelly gave it."

"Hoo…."

Prickly Nelly handed over her dagger?

Leo Ric exhaled, reassessing. This girl might be stronger than she looked.

"If Nelly approved, fine. Go ahead."

"Whoa, really?"

"One tip: Red-Tails charge on eye contact. Remember."

Told her boars were aggressive unlike rabbits, then Leo Ric left.

"Alright!"

Entry success—Ha-yeon snorted eagerly.

Just find boar! Wrestle if needed, call help if not.

Plan set, she stepped forward—

"Gah, gyaaaah!"

A desperate scream echoed nearby.