Back to School and Climbing the Tower
December. With my climb up the Tower and Dad's disappearance piling on, it had been ages since I'd gone to school. Naturally, Chaerin hadn't shown up either. She'd probably keep taking leave like this until she turned fourteen and headed straight to the Academy. For an S-rank Hunter, schoolwork wasn't a big deal anyway. Plus, Chaerin was on a whole other level when it came to looks compared to kids our age. Now that she was hitting middle school age, her beauty was really starting to shine, and TV shows were already inviting her for interviews and chats.
TV shows should make her at least a little nervous, right?
But Chaerin? Born different, I guess. She breezed through the interviews and casually showed off her powers. The internet lost its mind over it.
Yeah, Chaerin was pretty stunning. But getting her looks judged like this by random strangers online? Imagining myself in her shoes made my skin crawl.
I should never show my face, even if I become a Hunter.
Getting exposed and hit with harsh critiques would crush me. Maybe I should make something to cover my face later.
Mulling that over while packing my bag to head home, someone approached.
"Ha Yuna."
I looked up at the voice. There stood Han Seojun.
"Han Seojun?"
And he wasn't alone. Kids from the other class were with him too. Tilting my head at them, they hesitated before bowing their heads.
"Thanks for saving us that day."
"Thank you, Yuna."
My eyes widened quietly. If I had to say, I wasn't the type to mix well with the class kids. Especially the girls—thanks to Chaerin, we weren't on great terms. But here they all were, thanking me together. For some reason, it made me smile. The first real smile since Dad passed.
"Glad you're all safe."
That was more than enough for the effort I'd put in.
Seeing my smile, the kids glanced at each other.
"Sorry, Yuna. We must've misunderstood you all this time."
"Yeah, yeah. You're such a good person."
Then the girls started chatting me up and fussing over me in a way they never had before. Thirteen years living as a girl, and I'd figured out their social dynamics.
No lion in the cave, so the fox takes over, huh?
With Chaerin gone, it looked like I'd become the girls' leader.
My gaze flicked briefly to the boys. It met Han Seojun's—the one who'd confessed to me. The one who made me realize anew that I was a girl.
Where I belong as a girl.
Here. Sure, up until elementary school, I hung with the boys no problem. But in middle school? A girl rolling with boys would get weird looks. And who knows what issues might pop up with them anyway.
Right here.
I smiled at the girls fawning over the top dog.
"Th-thanks."
Middle school was coming soon. I was growing up too.
After ditching the girls trying to throw an after-school party, I made it to a quiet nearby park.
"Phew."
Now for what I had to do.
Climb the Tower!
Tower raiding. Climbing it levels skills and stats. If I aimed to be a Hunter, the Tower was essential.
"Spider."
At my whisper, the spider puppet emerged from the bushes.
"Eek!"
Still grotesque every time—I yelped instinctively. But to spare its feelings, I cleared my throat and played it cool. It was my creation, after all. No need to act scared.
"Spider. We're heading into the Tower now. You'll handle it."
I was just a 13-year-old girl with zero athleticism. Fighting monsters? I'd die nine times out of ten. The spider puppet was my only hope.
Clenching my fists to cheer it on, it waved a leg. Full of confidence. Time to trust my kid!
"Here we go!"
Entering the Tower was simple.
"Hunter Ha Yuna, I-I'm entering the Tower?"
Hunters chosen by the Tower just had to say it. Something thudded down in front of me.
"Eek!"
I jumped back with a shriek. Looking closer, there was a lone door standing there.
Why was I so jumpy lately? In real crises, my head went ice-cold, no fear. But normally? Extra skittish as backlash.
Embarrassing.
Gotta fix these squeals before middle school. Clearing my throat, I refocused. The door to the Tower. Staring it down, my body shivered. Opening it might mean no coming back. Vague terror hit, but I breathed deep and steadied. Gripping the handle, I shoved it open hard.
"Spider, let's go!"
Creak—the world shifted as the door swung wide. Wind from inside the Tower brushed my tense cheeks. An eerie chill. Raising my head slowly, three windows floated there.
[1st Floor]
■ Easy
■ Normal
■ Hard
Rewards varied wildly by difficulty, obviously. What to pick?
"...Spider, what would you choose?"
It glanced up and tapped the bottom one. Hard. My kid had insane confidence.
"R-really sure?"
Thud thud—it pounded the ground, brimming with assurance. Owner's gotta risk her neck here. But trusting my creation was on me too.
"...Alright!"
I reached out and selected Hard.
"Let's do this."
The scenery warped. A medieval back alley at dusk appeared. First time seeing it. The Tower showed unique scenes per Hunter, so strategies varied by ability.
Looking up, ramshackle wooden buildings leaned over the narrow alley like they were shoving each other. Slivers of light peeked through. Cobblestones below, but mud and stagnant rot filled the gaps. Walls scarred with charred handprints and cryptic graffiti. Human traces everywhere, but no life—an eerie ghost town vibe.
"...Smell."
Something rotten and ancient stung my nose. My stomach churned.
Splash—light footsteps ahead.
Somewhat nimble tread. Turning toward the sound, something peeked out. Horns on its head. Long ears. Pale purple skin. Rusty sword in hand.
Goblin. A higher-tier Morblin, dark-attribute special breed. Adult male strength, partial immunity to dark magic. Hard mode lived up to the name—straight to Morblin.
It spotted me and grinned. Creepy.
Chill—goosebumps exploded. Pure intent to rip my soft flesh.
Danger.
Instinct screamed as it lunged. Panicking, I groped the ground for a weapon. It overlapped my shadow.
Splat—its head pierced, pinned midair.
Dangle—body limp, eyes vacant. Instant death.
My frozen gaze shifted. The spider puppet stood, one leg extended long. It lifted a leg at me lightly.
See? Told ya.
"Spider!!"
Our spider was way stronger than I thought. First monster up close—nearly peed myself. Girl bodies had weak bladders, apparently.
"Good job."
I rushed over, petting its head furiously. It shrugged happily. Proud, huh.
Thud thud—more footsteps.
Spider dropped the corpse and whipped around.
Ziiing! Light gathered at its core.
Oh, that move.
I stood back politely. Crossed myself for the incoming Morblins.
"Grick?"
Kaboom! Three Morblins vaporized in a heat beam sweep. Ash scattered like fireworks.
Whoa, fireworks.
Then the world crumbled. Cleared already?
1st Floor Hard cleared.
Clear time: 1 min 30 sec
1st Floor Hard record broken!
Huh? Record broken? Didn't see that coming.
My eyes met the spider's. It puffed its chest proudly. Kinda gross, tone it down.
Is our spider stronger than I thought?
Thinking it over, no way an F-rank Hunter pulled that off solo. I'd experimented with my skill—nothing matched the spider puppet's threat level. My room was stacked with failures like SuperDragon2 and 3. F-rank growth skills had limits.
Today's proof.
Dad's stashed materials weren't ordinary.
Maybe...
Dad vanished in a Dimension Break. Connected to the spider's materials? Keep all possibilities open.
If that's true...
Find more like it, and maybe Dad too...
Congratulations.
Nightmare Challenge Access Granted
📍 1st Floor retry available.
🎁 Rewards enhanced on clear.
Whoa?