Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Ramju Thunder Evolves~! (Or Not)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Once again, Jiwoo had consecutively cleared floors 11 through 15 of the Challenge Tower.
Which naturally meant he'd posted his usual climbing proof on the Tower Climbing Gallery as per routine. And once the bait was dropped, it was only natural for the gallery to burst into flames again.
Title: Hunter kid climbed today too ☺ Author: Squirrel Enthusiast (Challenge Tower 15th floor climb record.jpg)
The boss tree was so ugly it startled me ;;
To celebrate clearing the boss fight, I had coffee, peanuts, and beer with my friends today ☺
The usual mix of envy and amazement flooded the comments.
On top of that, lately even the big shots—who normally wouldn't bother posting pointless stuff on this Tower Climbing Gallery—were showing up.
In this great hunter era, the big names—named high-rankers each holding their own turf—were starting to send love calls.
Of course, scouting promising hunters wasn't high-rankers' job, and they sure wouldn't do it openly on a public gallery like this... but with no other traces of this 3026 guy anywhere else, what choice did they have?
The lofty high-rankers, who never even poked their heads into the gallery usually, were now leaving comments and posts to woo him. To the bored regular climbers, it was a full-blown festival.
Squirrel Enthusiast was an unprecedented prodigy with shortest records on every floor except the first one, yet his climbing pace was slower than even average high-rankers.
No one knew why, but he kept camping every 5-floor section for days on repeat clears.
Speculation abounded, but the consensus was that 3026's skills required certain conditions to activate.
That explained the outrageous scouting posts too.
You don't have to tell us your face, name, or abilities! Wanna start by just hanging out with us?—an outrageous proposal.
And they'd treat him even better than an exclusive contract in that state.
Obviously, the intent to butter him up before rivals was transparent... but no other company could dare propose something this bold.
Comments hoped Squirrel Enthusiast might bite, but he remained silent as ever.
Of course, for Squirrel Enthusiast... 'Kim Jiwoo,' such bold offers were worth considering.
Unfortunately, the timing of that post was just bad.
In the hunters' world—not to mention politics, economy, and society at large—love calls for 3026 were pouring in.
Major hunter companies promised high-ranker treatment to an unranked hunter who hadn't even finished the Challenge Tower.
The government urged him to come out, promising every favoritism policy before foreign spies snuck in and cut deals.
Hell, even a non-hunter food company—a nut producer, fittingly—wanted him for their 'Squirrel Enthusiast' themed product ads.
To a hunter whose face, name, or any identity was unknown.
Call it the butterfly effect. A doll company selling mountain squirrel character plushies even saw sales skyrocket absurdly.
Anyway, his influence was that massive.
Even high school seniors isolated for exam prep knew about Hunter 3026.
Hunter talk usually bored girls, but at this point, it was unavoidable even among Ji-yeon's friends.
Friends with mountain squirrel plushies dangling from their bags were chatting about hot Hunter 3026 again today.
"He set shortest records on every floor up to 15."
"I heard 14? Couldn't do floor 1."
"But is that a big deal?"
"Insane record! Han Su-ho's records stood for 3 years unbroken. Even my dad's company is going nuts looking for 3026!"
Most were girls who barely cared about hunters beyond knowing Han Su-ho's name.
The one with a dad in the hunter industry explained enthusiastically... but her friend obsessed with hot high-rankers clearly wasn't into the dull details.
"Ugh, whatever. I just hope he's handsome~"
"...He's not ugly."
"Huh? What'd you say, Ji-yeon?"
"N-nothing."
Ji-yeon was having trouble joining the convo today.
One slip and she'd blurt it out.
That her brother Kim Jiwoo might be that 'Squirrel Enthusiast.'
She was the only one who knew he'd spent 3 years solely hunting mountain squirrels on Trial Tower floor 1.
'...Why'd it take them so long to notice?'
Clutching her head in self-reproach, but the reasons were plenty.
First, 3026's record spree was famous, but his past was obscure.
That he was the villain spamming Trial Tower floor 1 proofs for 1,000 days on the hunters-only Tower Climbing Gallery? You had to dig deep online to find it.
Media focused on records, not backstory.
Second, Ji-yeon deliberately ignored hunter news.
Because of her brother, Kim Jiwoo.
Dropped out at 18, bounced between jobs till awakening miraculously at 20.
Climbed Trial Tower to floor 10 with high hopes... but got trash skills, couldn't go further.
"S-sorry... Guess I got unlucky."
His bitterly smiling face instead of tears lingered.
Why would she want news of thriving hunters when her brother suffered?
It hurt too much; she shut her ears on purpose.
But then...
"What? That Tutorial Tower or whatever? Guy hunted squirrels there for 1,000 days?"
See? That's clearly her brother, Kim Jiwoo...!
The timing matched Squirrel Enthusiast's record spree with Jiwoo suddenly bringing home a wild mountain squirrel named Ramju Thunder.
Something changed then, for sure.
But why hide it from everyone, even her?
Some secret he must keep?
'Should I... probe subtly?'
Heading home with that thought, she saw a sight beyond imagination.
Thunder Seal Stone.
A transparent green gem with a yellow lightning pattern sealed inside.
Apparently a pretty famous item.
S-rank consumable boasting terrifying power to drop massive lightning and erase targets without trace—usable only 3 times.
Traded at insane prices, rarely at auction.
"Chirp~♪ Chirp chirp~♫"
"......"
Thunder was humming a tune in front of me, shoulders bouncing excitedly as he walked.
There was a reason for this.
"...Tone-deaf little guy."
The reason was this explanation only my system showed, unknown to the world.
The asterisked message only I could see.
Anyone could tell it was for Thunder's evolution.
Seeing it, Thunder leaped for joy.
Did he want to evolve that badly?
"Chirp~ Chirp chirp chirp~♫"
Hmm. But seeing that thrilled face...
"They say this could fetch billions if sold...?"
"...Chirp?"
"And its power's insane? Shouldn't we save it for super tough monsters?"
"Chirp? Chirp chirp chirp?"
"Well, delaying your evolution a bit won't hurt. Was thinking of moving anyway... Sell this and get a new place. You cool with that, Thunder?"
"Chiiiiiik~!?!?!?"
Thunder collapsed on the spot.
"Chiik..."
"Hey, just kidding."
"Chiik?"
"Yeah. Gonna use this to evolve you right now, so get ready."
"Chiik!!"
The simple squirrel leaped for joy on the spot.
The obvious choice, really.
Billions, massive power... all shiny nonsense.
Evolving Thunder would bring those naturally.
Forget not: my core ability strengthens companions.
Not just any strengthening—full evolution.
No brainer to do it ASAP.
I placed Thunder and the Thunder Seal Stone side by side, launching into a speech.
"Alright, now... we commence the evolution ceremony for the invincible ultimate mountain squirrel, Ramju Thunder. Applause."
Clap clap clap clap clap.
The ceremony's sole audience, Frankenstein, clanged his alloy arms enthusiastically.
I placed a hand on Thunder's shoulder, voice solemn.
"Ramju Thunder, the day has finally come. When I named you that and saw your suspiciously high mana, I sensed this day would arrive. Knew it from the start. Believed in you."
"Chirp? Chirp chirp chirp."
Uh... what're you talking about...?
No memory at all.
Ahem. I cleared my throat and swiftly hoisted the Thunder Seal Stone.
"Anyway! Handover skill to give it to you should trigger evolution, right? Ready, Thunder?"
"Chirp!"
Me and Thunder, hearts pounding.
Deep breath. Shouted.
"Handover!"
"Chiiiiiik!!"
Poof—the stone vanished from my hand.
...Then a weird message appeared.
"What?"
"Chirp?"
Poof—back in my hand.
We blinked dumbly.
Helpful system added explanation.
"...What the hell, you bastard."
"Chiik..."
Clunk.
Required stats for evolution...? So many conditions.
Frank evolving on his own was the cheat.
Anyway, mana or whatever stat needs leveling up.
Climbing the tower would get there eventually.
"You cleared 15 yesterday with room to spare. No more parking—let's climb higher and level. Faster that way."
"Chirp chirp!"
Decision made, next up: skills.
Foresight Eye, my new skill from yesterday.
From the unease in my left eye and description, it formed there.
Exact effects? Gotta test.
I focused my left eye, mentally activating the skill.
......?
What is this? Dizzy.
Objects double-visioned.
Especially movers like Thunder or Frank.
"Ugh..."
Instinctively focused my left eye.
Instantly... Thunder and Frank's afterimages multiplied.
Future moving left, right... jump? Charge? Countless branching futures.
Tripling, quadrupling overlays... till visual data flooded indistinguishably.
"Ugh, wha..."
Overloaded info spun my head; I collapsed.
"—pa! Oppa! Wake up!"
"......Huh?"
Opening eyes: ceiling and little sister's face.
Ah, time already?
Passed out.
Misusing Foresight Eye was that dangerous.
But I kinda got how to use it... needs practice.
Sitting up, sister stared seriously.
Worried her.
"Hey, I'm fine. Just napped a bi—"
"Oppa, don't you have something to tell me?"
"Huh? What..."
Following her pointing finger: someone who shouldn't be home now.
Clunk.
The alloy golem scratching his head awkwardly.
Frank, left out of sub-space 'cause I was out cold, sat primly beside her.