Chapter 14

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: Floor 7

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I rubbed my eyes and woke up.

Habitually, I groped for my phone. The moment the screen lit up, my half-asleep, blurry vision cleared in an instant.

"Hold on..."

The situation didn't feel right.

I immediately logged into the Hunter Gallery. I'd expected some buzz, but things were even crazier than I'd imagined.

The entire board was plastered with my nickname, Blanc, and chatter about the Legendary Skill.

Debates raged on whether Blanc was a Korean player, if it was real or fake. The comments section was already a gladiator arena.

But what really caught my eye amid the chaos were these.

Clicking through revealed a circus. Major guilds to no-name startups—all desperate to track me down.

Rumors even swirled of a bounty on the black market for my identity.

A chill ran down my spine.

The Legendary Skill felt less like a blessing and more like a bullseye.

"...Ha."

My head throbbed.

My body itched to dash out and test the Legendary Skill properly, but going like this? I'd get caught 100%.

Fine. I'd test it from my room first. I resummoned a single butterfly.

The blue butterfly flitted around the room on its own whim until I mentally beckoned it with a fingertip. It glided smoothly and landed delicately on my index finger.

Light. Cool to the touch.

I needed to know what this thing did before I could use it right.

"...I wonder if butterflies have status windows too?"

I stared hard at it and pulled up the status screen.

"...Talk about unhelpful."

For a Legendary, it hid more than it showed.

Maybe low level? Or needs proficiency to unlock? Or the system saying "be grateful for a Legend on Floor 6."

'Those ???—attack skills or utility? Driving me nuts.'

Regrettable, but I'd work with what I had.

'Vision Sharing' screamed scouting tool.

"Ah, perfect. I can check the surroundings with this."

I activated Vision Sharing and cracked the window, nudging ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the butterfly outside.

Weird sensation.

With eyes open, a small TV screen floated in the upper left of my vision, overlaying the butterfly's view.

Picture-in-picture vibe.

But two views mixed was disorienting. I closed my eyes and lay back on the bed.

The unreal butterfly vision piped straight into my brain.

Beyond its blue wings: dawn-lit alley of my rundown neighborhood. Higher altitude revealed the whole area at a glance.

Felt like flying a drone.

Dawn air was crisp. No shops lit except a few bars.

Focusing on wingbeats, I cautiously headed to the plaza near the Tower.

The plaza looked dead silent through butterfly eyes. Empty.

'...Overthinking it?'

Relaxing to descend—then unease from Tower-side trees and bushes. Faint presence.

I lifted the butterfly higher for a bird's-eye view.

There they were.

People in black clothes.

Hiding in bushes, stock-still, watching the Tower entrance.

No civilians. Veteran hunters' sharp auras clear as day.

"Eek...!"

My body on the bed jolted instinctively.

Real. Someone was guarding the entrance for real.

Without the butterfly? I'd be nabbed for sure. Dizzying thought.

Cold sweat dripped.

Ha, now what? Entrance blocked.

Timer not restarted already? Anxiously checked status.

"...Not running?"

What triggered it? Floor clear resets? Grace period?

Whatever—good news. But entrance problem remained. No way through those hunters.

While racking my brain, Little One woke and wriggled into my arms.

I stroked its head, venting the situation like a complaint.

Whether it understood or not, it pondered cutely, then dragged the mana stone bag from the corner with grunts. Tapped the bag, miming "gimme."

"What? Eat this and you've got a plan?"

Little One shrugged, playing dumb.

"You're just hungry, aren't you?"

Poke its cheek—it flopped back laughing without resistance.

Ridiculous but adorable. I opened the bag. Stones overflowed anyway.

"Fine, money's no issue. Eat up."

It devoured them eagerly. Crunch crunch. Pure ASMR.

Last time it leveled from stones—hoping again.

Legendary Skill earned; summon levels should skyrocket.

Bag emptying—light burst over Little One's head.

"Oh..."

Faster than expected. Leftover EXP from last time, probably.

Checked skills—no new ones. But Stealth up to Lv 2. Description unchanged.

Sighing at the belly-up, spread-eagled Little One.

"Hey, that's it? Level 4 and nothing changes?"

It squinted thoughtfully, then activated Stealth.

"Same as always."

Just got hazy—no difference.

Seeing my disappointment, it reappeared, wagging a finger.

Tsk-tsk-tsk-ing, it dragged me to the mirror.

"...Huh?"

I froze staring at my reflection.

My image shimmered like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heat haze, background visible through me.

"Wait, I'm stealthed too?"

Little One proudly thumbs-upped. Stealth sharing.

"Little One, did you know this and ask for stones?"

Its eyes flickered, then brazenly nodded. Sneaky thing.

"Whoa, you're... the best. Amazing!"

I scooped it up, repeating "You're the best! Amazing!"

Delighted, it nuzzled my chest, purring.

Perfect. Stealth? Sneaking past entrance guards? Easy.

"Alright. Gear up and hit the Tower today."

Tower entrance.

Little One's Stealth hazed my body, but my heart pounded like mad.

Enter like this and done? Flashy entry or noise? Ruin everything.

One sound, and those bush hyenas pounce.

Wait...

Anxiously ducked back, checked net.

Entry effects? Info quick.

- [Info] Noise or effects on Tower entry?

- TL;DR: Nothing. Slip through door-like, vanish smoothly.

Video skim: No flashes or alarms on entry.

Good.

Swallowed dryly, headed in.

Sharp gazes from bushes, but I slipped silently between them.

Pushed into blue barrier.

No sound, no light. Sucked right in.

Monsters: 10 Giant Goblins.

'Hard mode Floor 7: 2 Giant Goblins, 3 normal. One step up, but numbers way off.'

Little One didn't hesitate.

"Leave a few. Testing."

Nod, then charged.

Flames flashed, lightning poured. Giant Goblins crumpled before swinging.

...Tower not easy—it's this kid who's nuts.

I gathered mana at my fingertip.

'Azure Sea Butterfly.'

One, two.

They poured out endlessly.

Thousands in—clearing's air shifted. Blue waves lapping floor, vision drowned in chill light.

Ethereal, surreal spectacle.

Around 2,000—chest hollowed faintly. Not blood, but body heat subtly draining.

Stopped. No greed.

Magnificent.

Fighting Little One paused, mesmerized. Survivors too, lost in the unreal sight.

Mentally directed spares—a Giant Goblin. Reached ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out.

Waves crashed. Butterflies swarmed like starving locusts.

Giant swung club wildly—useless on ethereal bodies.

They latched, devouring mana mercilessly.

Goblins collapsed near-death, silent.

'...Oh.'

Felt it clearly.

Each nibble fed me faint but steady mana.

But 2,000 upkeep drained more. Leaky bucket, but filling fast.

How long hold?

Mana outflow felt, but no limit in sight.

Usually mana out = blackout. Why fine? No dizziness—body light.

Plenty left? How huge is my mana pool?

Lost in thoughts—system popped.