Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: This is a Real Trash Monster
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As I said, lately I've been deliberately adjusting the amount of magic stones I cash in.
Before climbing the tower with Thunder, when I was grinding in the Trial Tower, I used to cash in about 30 low-grade magic stones every month.
Now, I've only bumped it up slightly to around 50 a month.
By increasing it little by little like this each month, even if someone checks my cash-in records, it won't stand out much.
They'd probably just think some lowbie hunter raised their climbing floor a bit.
The problem is that I still don't have quite enough for immediate monthly expenses...
That's why I haven't quit the construction site grind yet.
And today was one of those rare days off to grab a drink with the ajusshi crew.
"Ah, hyungnim. Let me pour for you."
"Ooh, you think? It's been a while since we got a round from our Ji-woo."
"This guy's been so hard to sync up with lately."
"Haha, my little sister's been hating on me coming home boozed up."
It's been five years rolling in the construction game.
You see every kind of character here.
Criminals, foreigners, ex-company presidents on the run from bankruptcy chased by their furious factory workers...
Once a week, you'd catch the ajussis throwing punches, and every now and then, it escalates to real knife fights.
It was rough at first.
Never done manual labor in my life, suddenly hauling back-breaking loads...
Getting cussed out left and right just for being the young kid while learning the ropes...
But humans adapt, and you survive wherever you land.
I hustled as the eager maknae, and somehow five years flew by.
That's how I ended up with folks I actually click with.
I call them hyungnim, but they're all old enough to be my dad.
Still, using a youthful title probably makes them feel good.
As the drinks flowed and the vibe loosened up, Old Man Kim suddenly brought it up.
"I hear that Hunter 3026 is killing it in our country these days?"
"Yeah, news and the net are blowing up."
"Damn. If I'd known another one like that was coming, I'd have bought some stocks."
"What stocks, you debt-dodger? Where's your money?"
"Better off than some bankrupt asshole."
What? You done talking shit?
Wanna go?
The usual WWE match kicked off.
And as always, the eldest Old Man Park broke it up.
Once the commotion died down, the baton passed to me.
"Speaking of, isn't our Ji-woo a hunter too? You must be more plugged in than us."
"Yeah, something like that. I know better than anyone? Truth is, I'm that Hunter 3026."
"What...?"
A brief silence fell over the table.
And soon after...
"Puhahaha! What kinda nonsense is that?!"
"Hey, punk. If you were really that guy, why the hell are you still grinding here? Go hit up the government for a 10 billion advance and blow it all~."
"Kekeke... That cracked me up. Here's a round."
"Thanks."
The table erupted.
Of course they wouldn't believe it.
A young guy grinding construction with them every day suddenly being Hunter 3026?
To these ajussis, I'm the "unlucky bastard who awakened but got trash skills, stuck repeating low floors."
They all know my parents are tower penalty victims, so I'm the boy head of household paying capsule fees monthly.
They know, but they don't baby me or pity me.
That's why I hang with them.
No prejudice.
Guys as screwed as me are a dime a dozen here.
"Chit?"
"Hey, hey, no booze no matter what. Here, eat this."
"Chit chit!"
Thunder eyeing my soju.
Even for a guy who tries anything, alcohol's a hard no.
I gave him some dried squid from the snacks instead.
A squirrel munching squid like that?
The ajussis marveled at the spectacle.
"That's wild. How'd you tame a wild squirrel like that?"
"Eh, it just followed me from near the mountains."
"But can squirrels eat squid?"
"They're omnivores. Eats anything you give it."
Thunder gobbled up every snack and bite the ajussis offered.
I stopped one drunk uncle from feeding it booze.
Wait, bringing Thunder out so openly?
Yeah, I was nervous at first too... but turns out it's fine.
No one on the street clocks it as a monster, and even checking Tower Gallery or the guidebook, no skill IDs monsters.
Goblins scream monster, but Thunder looks just like a real squirrel, so it's cool.
Better than stuffy subspace waiting room.
"Ah, hyungnims. Drinks are on me today."
"Ji-woo, what money you got?"
"Been climbing the tower better lately, income's up."
"Nice! Thanks for the feast, kid."
How'd he suddenly climb higher? How much cash? They didn't pry, just got up.
That's what I like about 'em.
After settling the bill, outside—surprisingly, Old Man Choi waited with an uncomfortable look.
"What's up, hyungnim? Something to say?"
"Uh, well, Ji-woo... you got time?"
"Huh? Suddenly? Round two?"
This guy's always mooching, what's the occasion?
But it wasn't that.
"I know this reporter... heard about you, wants to interview."
"Interview~? Nah, I'm not into that..."
"C'mon, just once?"
"...Why? He got dirt on you?"
Old Man Choi hemmed and hawed, then confessed quietly.
"I got debts, some folks chasing me... and this reporter's tight with them."
"Ah, so if you don't hook me up, he'll expose your whereabouts?"
"Mm..."
The father-figure hung his head in shame.
Self-inflicted, and I'm not super loyal... but...
Tsk, what's one meeting?
"Sure, whatever. Just text when and where."
"Really? Thanks, Ji-woo... thank you!"
He shook my hand raw with teary gratitude.
Reminded me of Dad, softened me up.
But I doubt the blackmail ends here... he'll handle it.
I'll meet the sleazy reporter, toss some fluff, done.
"Aigoo, hello~ Heard so much from President Choi. Sit, sit. Wow, hunter-nim, you look the part."
"Yeah, whatever."
At the cafe meetup, a skinny, half-bald ajusshi waited.
Blackmailer grinning like a saint, acting all friendly.
This guy's straight-up...
"Chit chit."
Exactly.
I hate to say looks are science, but this fits perfect.
Sat down, he handed over his card.
"Lee Wan-yong from Hunter Daily."
"...Nice name."
"Aigoo, thanks."
Hunter Daily... yeah, heard of it.
Sounds legit, but it's a trash rag spewing hunter gossip and rumors, "take it or leave it" style.
Figures it'd be this dump.
No need to spill my real beans anyway.
"President Choi said you're a hunter but also work construction?"
"Hunter gigs don't pay enough for my needs."
"Hmm~? Why's that? Bad pay?"
"Got crappy skills. Stuck on low floors."
"Hoo..."
The reporter smirked, scribbling furiously in his notebook.
"No ambition... blaming weak skills... repeating safe low-floor clears..."
"...?"
"Don't mind. Just mumbling."
...What the hell?
Staring in disbelief, now he eyes Thunder on my shoulder.
"Oho, uniquely toting a squirrel?"
"...Just a pet."
"Hmm, taming a squirrel. Wild stuff. Speaking of, that 3026 hunter—'Squirrel Enthusiast'—is trending. Influenced?"
"Yeah, sure."
"No self-improvement... chasing get-rich-quick... the ugly face of modern young hunters..."
"..."
Done talking.
Lee Wan-yong probed my abilities, current floor—privacy block all.
Parents in capsules? Me grinding since 18 for fees?
He couldn't care less.
Just fishing for sensational trash article fodder.
About 30 minutes of nutrient-void "interview," he stood with a sleazy grin.
"Aigoo, thanks for the good stuff. I'll write you up nice."
"Yeah, sure."
Real nice, huh.
Twist it weird or not, don't care.
Won't read, no interest.
Waste of emotion and time.
Just stepped in shit for Old Man Choi.
Heading out, the counter girl stopped me.
"Uh, could you pay? The guy who left said bill the customer."
"...What, adamantium face or what?"
"Chit! Chit chit!"
Meeting the sleaze was whatever; my routine didn't change.
Today's Challenge Tower floor 5 clear—done in 5 seconds flat.
"Chit chiiik!"
"Nope."
Thunder's at level 15 now.
Stats way up, skill levels too.
Companion skills level up with use, gaining proficiency.
I thought those were just descriptive moves at first... nope.
Skills named like that pack real power and effects.
Tap to check: Deadly Front Teeth power 60, Body Slam 35... all quantified.
Plus, learning a skill boosts the move's power. Rolling Thunder Kick's prime example.
Thunder kicked plenty before, but post-skill? Power's insane.
Dunno the mechanics, but good is good.
"Chit... chit chit."
"...Please skip translating stuff like this."
This 'Rolling Thunder Kick' is Thunder's go-to now.
Cool move or whatever.
Corny name, but power 100 killer move.
Strongest in Thunder's arsenal.
One-shots boss Hob Goblins now. Time to eye next floor.
Floor 6+ needs high-damage nukes.
Pulled Tower Climbing Gallery intel on floor 6 mobs.
"Sand Golem. Slow and sluggish, but tough defense and raw strength..."
Floors 1-5: goblin variants. 6-10: golem variants.
Golems sound scary big, but low-floor tower ones? Nah.
Human-sized sans boss, sloooow, brainless.
Even lower death rate than goblin floors.
Their slow attacks? Hard to even get hit if you don't want.
Annoying part: that rock-solid defense.
Tower's about speed-clearing for ranks. These tanks drag it out.
Sand Golems are packed sand—dense enough for strong hits.
Low-damage hunters spend all day; low rank = low EXP, killer in growth tower.
"But flip it... if you pierce 'em, easy street."
Thunder one-shots Hob Goblins now.
Me maxing EXP for stats, plus Savage Club.
DPS won't lack.
"Anyway, real trash monster."
Enemy? Tough pain. Companion? What use for a slow, dumb golem.
Ugh, never recruiting one.
Firm resolve.