Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: New Shortest Record
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Having decided to climb a new floor, it's time to prepare.
The difficulty of the second floor isn't much different from the first, but no matter how easy it is, you always need to be fully prepared.
You know how they say you need to prepare for 120 to deliver 100 in the real thing?
Since we're aiming for S-rank, we need to prepare even more thoroughly.
That's why I'm sitting here with Thunder on my lap, showing him YouTube videos.
"Chiiik—"
The moment the video started playing, Thunder let out a big yawn, stretching lazily.
He started squirming to escape my lap, so I held him in place with my hand.
Watch it properly.
This is the floor you're climbing tomorrow.
At least get familiar with it.
"Squad Leader Goblins, right?"
I said it before the Red Mage could.
Truth be told, I already know all about Floor 2.
攻略 info for the Challenge Tower is everywhere.
There are even攻略 guides published as books, and if you search the gallery, hundreds of related posts pop up.
And hunters like this Red Mage who turn it into popular content.
This might make the Challenge Tower sound like a pushover, but it's not that easy.
Even with all the攻略 info out there, very few hunters actually conquer it.
Most hit their limit somewhere in the middle.
Only a select few conquer the tower and become rankers.
The Red Mage in the video is a high ranker in Korea's hunter rankings.
The Red Mage, a mage, casually dodges a sword thrust at close range.
To a high ranker, goblin sword swings must look like they're standing still.
In fact, the goblins swinging the swords started getting tired first.
Honestly, this video could be called deceptive.
A high ranker coming down to Floor 2 to fight goblins?
It's like an elephant fighting ants.
Dodging sword strikes leisurely while surrounded by a goblin horde is impossible for a rookie hunter just starting Floor 2.
But the important thing here isn't whether you can move like the Red Mage.
It's observing what the Floor 2 monsters look like and how they move.
How big are they? How strong?
How agilely does that body move? How skillfully do they handle their weapons?
Do they charge in groups, or move cautiously?
You need to watch the video vividly and think about how you'd handle them.
That's why I'm showing this video to Thunder.
So he can think ahead about how to deal with those guys tomorrow.
But this guy...
"Hey, you asleep?"
"zzz— ...Chik!? Chiik!"
Thunder shakes his head vigorously.
Wipe off that drool first, then lie.
How long have you been sleeping?
From the start of the video?
"Thunder, did you even watch this? The next floor has stronger goblins. Got it?"
"Chiik."
The little squirrel nods his head shamelessly.
Understand what?
Anyone can see he just took a deep nap.
He goes crazy shoving stuff in his mouth, but hates putting anything in his head.
'Sigh, fine. I'll watch it for you.'
What can you expect from a beast?
I'm the idiot sitting a squirrel on my lap and playing lectures.
Better if I study and give instructions.
He's useless outside the tower and ignores me, but inside, he follows orders nimbly.
Honestly, Floor 2 isn't too worrying yet.
We cleared Floor 1 in under two minutes today, so even if Floor 2 takes a bit longer, S-rank should be fine.
Roar—!
A flashy flame spell befitting a flame sorcerer class.
The remaining goblins vanished without a trace in the massive serpent-shaped fire.
That's a skill.
I watched in admiration, but Thunder, uninterested, just munched on coffee peanuts.
Is he bold or just clueless?
I wonder if this guy will ever learn skills like that.
His suspiciously high magic power stat gives some hope... or maybe not.
Who knows. Focus on what's in front of me first.
In the hunter community, they say to get S-rank on Floor 2, you need to clear all monsters within three minutes.
First-try clear is a given.
Injuries aren't specified exactly, but those who got S-rank said they had at most superficial scratches.
...But how does it work for me and Thunder?
Do his injuries affect the clear?
Or is it fine as long as I'm unharmed?
Not sure. I heard summoners aren't affected even if their summons vanish, since our situations are similar.
"Thunder, obvious, but fight without getting hurt. You hate pain too, right?"
"Chik, chiik!"
This body, my ass.
Anyway, how far does this guy's bravado go?
"Chiik!"
"Kerruk—!!"
...
Well, he had reason to brag.
Squad Leader Goblins were bigger than Grunts and armored in leather.
Yet they all went down in one hit to Level 8 Thunder.
The last one, hit squarely in the face with a Body Slam, flipped its eyes back and vanished.
I didn't even get a chance to use my new laundry pole.
"Chik, chiik..."
Thunder smirked and shook his head.
I want to smack that look off his face... but good job is good job.
The exp grinding on Floor 1 paid off.
It took less than two minutes to wipe out the Squad Leader Goblins, and Thunder wasn't grazed by a single sword.
The system flashed a fancy message.
And the grading began.
My heart pounded more than ever.
Even though I knew the result.
"Yesss!!"
"Chik!?"
I suddenly hugged him, and Thunder bristled his fur.
He squirmed to escape, but I wouldn't let go.
Sorry, but what can I do?
I'm just too happy.
I expected it, but actually getting S-rank is overwhelming joy.
"Uh... 120 points?"
Calming down and looking at the message, a question arose.
I thought rank scores were out of 100.
The system went silent for a moment, then produced the next message.
The last message cut off midway.
Anyway, we set the new shortest record.
Was the previous holder Han Su-ho?
This feels more stunned than joyful.
"?"
The last message came after a delay.
Something small appeared in my hand.
"...What's this?"
A small golden shard appeared in my hand. Transparent enough to see through, like a tiny gem fragment.
This is shortest record reward too?
No, the message above already gave bonus EXP for that...
No other description besides the name 'Star Fragment,' so no clue.
■■■■ Special reward—what's ■■■■?
Anyway, can't hurt to have it.
"At this rate, we should aim for shortest record on every floor, not just S-rank."
Even ignoring the mystery item, that huge bonus EXP can't be passed up.
I'd never heard of shortest record rewards, so it never crossed my mind.
This tower rewards winners who keep winning.
Even more than the outside world.
My level shot up to 5 in one go, but Thunder's didn't rise.
Squad Leaders give three times the EXP of Grunts, but it's still not enough for him now.
I want to challenge the next floor right away.
S-rank on Floor 3 seems easy, and we might even set another record.
But as I said, 'might' isn't good enough.
I want certainty.
"Thunder, let's grind to Level 10 here before we go."
"Chik!"
Thunder raised a tiny squirrel thumb.
"Chik—"
"Shh. They might hear. Just hold on a bit."
On the way home from the tower, Thunder squirmed uncomfortably in my bag.
Sorry to the hero who just broke the Floor 2 record, but... he's still a monster, cute as he is.
Showing up in downtown Seoul would be trouble.
To normals, he'd look like a big squirrel, but fellow hunters might recognize him as a Mountain Squirrel monster.
Some might have skills to identify monsters.
If caught, the government might react unpredictably.
They could deem me dangerous and detain me, or ban taming other monsters besides Thunder.
Whatever, revealing my ability now isn't beneficial.
At least not yet.
'But how do I hide future companions?'
Next, I'm thinking sturdy orc or rideable wyvern—how to bring those around Seoul?
If only I had an inventory like in games.
Thunder kept squirming until we got home and the door was firmly shut.
"Chiiik!"
"Hey, oppa. Hi."
"What? Kim Ji-yeon, why are you home at this hour?"
Greeting us was my little sister, who should be studying at school.
I looked puzzled, and she looked exasperated.
"Show some interest in your sister. I told you last time—mock exam today."
"Oh right... I've been out of it lately."
"Typical. Thunder, tut-tut, wanna come to sis?"
"Chik!"
The squirrel hopped over eagerly.
Not just like that, though.
Sis had a half-eaten sausage bun in hand.
She tore off a piece, and he happily ate it.
"But is it okay to give this to a squirrel?"
"You're saying that after already giving it."
"No, you feed Thunder anything too."
"...It's fine. Squirrels are omnivores anyway. Especially this one—he chews rocks."
"Pfft. Funny."
No, really.
He chews magic stones too.
After dinner, Ji-yeon started training Thunder to sit and stand, using food as bait.
She thinks he's just a smart squirrel.
She bought the 'found on the road' story.
More believable than 'tamed a tower monster,' probably.
While playing with Thunder, she suddenly said,
"But he really looks like 'Sanda.'"
"Sanda? What's that?"
"You don't know Sanda? Even as a hunter?"
She fetched a plushie from her room, looking just like Thunder.
"Wh-what's that?"
"This is 'Sanda.' Character plushie. Cute, right? You know it. That Mountain Squirrel monster you hunt all the time—they made a character out of it."
"Making characters out of that?"
"'That'? Girls love them. Not just Sanda—lots of cute monster characters. Little boys like big monster ones too."
"World's gone mad."
Hunters risk life against these, and they make plushies.
Mountain Squirrels are harmless weaklings, though...
Thunder sniffed the plushie curiously, poked around, then tilted his head.
"Chik?"
"..."
Of course it does. It's modeled after you.
I swallowed that and shook my head.
"Hey, I've hunted so many Mountain Squirrels I know 'em blind. It's subtly different. Thunder's a real squirrel; that's a monster doll."
"I know. Who said otherwise? Obviously. How could a tower monster come outside."
"Y-yeah."
"What's with you? Suspicious much?"
"Just tired. Tired."
"Hmm—"
Maybe my lame excuse—sis gave me a piercing look.
I avoided her eyes, and she sighed.
"So out of it, you probably forgot what tomorrow is."
"Tomorrow? Weekend."
"Yeah. Weekend. The day we visit Mom and Dad this month."
"Oh..."
"Forgot, huh? Live a little, human."
I couldn't say a word to my tongue-clicking sister.
Our family doesn't live together.
For the same reason as many modern families.
The tower took our parents from us.