Hell Difficulty Plunge

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I was careful about agreeing to the terms and picking a difficulty, so where was I? At a seolleongtang joint near the Hunter Association.

Sera's here, and I've got her card, so I was thinking of splurging a bit... But I was starving. The tower entrance was right next to the association branch anyway.

"You not eating?"

"...I already ate."

Sera eyed me as I ravenously shoveled down seolleongtang and braised pork belly. Hell, she even ordered soju. Sera—precious wallet of mine... no, training academy buddy. I never made it as a hunter, but this girl hit A-rank and went from strength to strength. That's what buddies are for, right? Free meals.

"Puhe... this hits the spot."

I polished off the stone pot and bowl, then looked up at Sera. She flashed a grin.

"You passed?"

"Yeah."

"Got an ability?"

"Looks like it."

"...You gonna explain it to me or what?"

After seeing all those rainbow-haired folks in another world, her face felt comforting in a way. I gazed at her steadily. Ponytail tied up high but not too thick, cute bangs right to her eyebrows. Butterfly tie choker around her neck, loose-fit shirt below, short suspender skirt with garter belt, white stockings. Plus, that voluptuous figure and perfect proportions I could only dream of. She was a famous hunter drawing stares even now, but she had plenty of reason to turn heads without the fame.

If you're gonna turn into a girl, might as well get a body like that.

Her signature dark eyes stared back intently, like she was demanding an explanation pronto.

What are you, some hag scraping for every penny...? But marry her and she'd probably give generous pocket money, huh? Future hubby's got it good.

"Explaining would take forever."

"Then explain it long. Here."

"Nah, short version."

I gave her the rundown. Might've been too jumbled, but Sera seemed to get the gist.

"...A gate?"

"Yup. Wanna try? They just let me right in."

"If it's like you said, I'd flunk. Magic school, right? Only for the talented?"

"No sense for it, huh."

Sera was A-rank, but she'd relied on me for mana stuff back in the day. Made me wonder what Karnaroff or Isabel would rate here. Their mana was way denser and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠richer than hers. At least A-rank, easy.

"Not dangerous?"

"Not at all."

I'd been wary at first, but even Karnaroff showed no hostility. Felt like I was really a student there. Aris was harmless as a kitten.

"Why not just climb the tower here?"

I'd considered it. But...

"I like magic more."

The thrill that raced ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up my spine learning and grasping it from Isabel and Karnaroff. The joy of mastering something new.

"Even basic attack magic's got low proficiency. Imagine the rest."

Most folks got one ability. I could stack multiples.

"But I'm like a peasant there, that's the issue."

"Peasant?"

"Yeah, that."

Filthy nobles. Would've been fine without that. Still, gotta pack extra luggage next portal trip. But first...

"Tower first."

"Now?"

"No point dragging it out."

I didn't know what disciplinary action meant exactly, but it sounded bad.

We stood at the tower entrance. It resembled the knothole portal I'd used for Reinhardt—surface rippling ominously.

And Woo Soo-hyun got dragged along, face like he'd eaten shit. Guide duty. He'd probably been thrilled to be rid of me today. Tough luck.

"Hey, if it's just guiding, we've got an A-rank hunter here..."

"A-rank hunter Sera. And here's Woo Soo-hyun trying to slack off on an A-rank. That's a death sentence, right?"

"That's not it! I don't know the tower that well either! I got stuck on Normal floor 7!!"

Woo Soo-hyun yelled, on the verge of tears. Aah, this is fun. Taste of power? Fox causing a scene behind the tiger? Thrilling. What if I became a real tiger? Once I hit A-rank—no, even B-rank—I'd hit him up daily for kicks.

"Sigh. I'll explain."

"Sera, it's not that I hate working..."

"I know. I'm better at it anyway. Anyway... put your hand here."

A window popped up. I hit Yes.

"First time in the tower, you'll get the difficulty select now."

Difficulty. The tower gauges your talent and sets one. You can choose. Usually Easy/Normal/Hard. Very Hard or Hell rarely show.

"But a guy's not picking Easy or Normal. Hard's the play, obviously."

Woo Soo-hyun's face twisted. Right, he was Normal.

"But I'm a girl now, so Normal it is."

Woo Soo-hyun looked lost. Sera knew, so no biggie.

The window took a bit.

"Pick the highest difficulty. Best rewards."

"Why?"

"Grab 'em early and bail."

Makes sense. Finger on the rightmost option.

Poke poke poke poke poke.

Sera's treating dinner too. Awakening celebration at a fancy spot. Gotta wrap this and chow down.

My dynamic vision snagged the window fast. Smacked Y.

"Whoa."

"What? What'd it say?"

"Hell difficulty."

"...When I first awakened as a hunter, my heightened senses were overwhelming."

"Huh? What's that got to do?"

"Just... wondering if it's lingering. Hallucinations or whatever."

"Nah, you heard right."

"...What?"

"Hell difficulty."

"Heh, heh, Hell difficulty!? That Hell mode almost no one's cleared worldwide!?"

Woo Soo-hyun gawked, mouth agape.

"What, why?"

Sera looked shocked too.

"No... with all those traits, not that surprising, but picking the hardest right off? No hesitation?"

"You said pick the best."

Sera was Very Hard. One step up should be doable. I glanced at her. She stared back in disbelief, then chuckled.

"...Dunno. You'll manage somehow. Form a party."

I partied with Sera. Woo Soo-hyun seemed even more stunned by her chill vibe. Partied him too.

"If it gets dicey, bail right away. No heroics."

"Got it."

I stretched, uncorked a potion, chugged. Blue glow enveloped me; mana definitely swelled. Small shots: twenty rounds. Big ones: two. Should be fine.

"What's that?"

"Professor at school gave it."

"They hand out potions? Those rare things?"

Yeah, mana recovery potions were pricey. Even A-rank Sera'd need to scour auctions and empty her wallet. But no choice. Needed max mana boosted.

Sera eyed it enviously.

"Professor said ambient mana won't cut it for spells."

Karnaroff's stern face flashed by. Didn't buy it fully, tested—no dice.

I held out my hand to Sera.

"Lend me a knife."

"Asking an A-rank for a knife?"

"C'mon, just once. Enter the tower unarmed?"

"Sigh, fine."

She reached into thin air. A pure white blade extended into my grip. But I was shocked for another reason.

"Weapon Inventory!? When'd you get that...?"

SR trait! Tower traits have fixed ranks; that was on my wishlist. Sucks it skipped initial traits.

"Not that great."

"What ain't great...?"

I'd have to drag weapons with my small frame or belt 'em awkwardly. Sera dodged my glare.

"Gotta angle precisely to store/withdraw. Only weapons qualify. Long cooldown, more hassle than worth."

She coughed, handed it over. Not the one I knew.

"Where's Muramasa?"

"In for repairs."

"Broke it again...?"

Old habit from academy—always chipping weapons.

"Hwandou, Jeongil. C-rank artifact, but named. Decent enough."

"Meh."

Beggars can't be choosers. I stepped into the rippling space.

Hit Y. Body whisked away.

"She'll be fine? Hell mode—even top A-ranks can't grow traits/abilities early on..."

Woo Soo-hyun had seen tons of climbers as a tester. And plenty who never came back. Hell especially—corpses or monsters. Deep dives haunted his dreams.

Yumia worried him more; he'd seen her longer.

"She'll manage."

"...Not too worried, huh."

"I know why that lunatic topped the academy."

Woo Soo-hyun had always wondered. A-rank was elite output even there. How'd she beat one? Mana boosts physicals naturally. Even unranked newbies, A-rank starts strong—double or triple normals back then.

"Lucky break?"

"Some tricks, some luck... but..."

Sera trailed off, old memories surfacing.

"...One-on-one, no one beat her. Not a single trainee that cohort."

I strolled casually into the tower. First real monster fight. But lessons stuck. Should be fine.

"...Huh?"

Pitch-black darkness swallowed me.