Chapter 5
Chapter 5
A few days passed since then.
Regarding the unbelievable event, I managed to trace my memory and visited the address, but the library was not seen.
I couldn't even find traces that a building existed.
It was an unbelievable event, but I wasn't surprised that largely.
Because isn't this a world where Towers, monsters, and all kinds of things happen?
I just had a strong intuition that the library and the girl named Mary are related to the Tower.
“The reason to climb the Tower increased by one more.”
Entering the Tower is possible once a day.
Whether failing the conquest or succeeding, the entry opportunity is only once.
Therefore, even if tired, I entered the Tower once unconditionally every day.
“Is today the 4th day?”
Defeat 10 Vicious Snails.
Progress: 0/10
Reward: Lowest Grade Magic Stone 4kg
“Let’s go, Spiky.”
Now it crawls out of the pocket on its own even without me speaking.
Thud. toward the fellow who landed on the floor, I used Growth Acceleration.
[Spiky (Angler Flower) accepts its Master’s mana completely.]
The disposal was instant.
KWAJAK, KWAJIK, KWAJAJAK!
Hm, watching that spectacle every day, I’m getting used to it now.
Preparing for a just-in-case situation, I held a potion in hand and waited for Spiky to devour the bastards.
And not long after, a blue window floated before my eyes.
The message I’m seeing for the 4th time already floated up.
Creation Fragments, of which 4 have gathered before I knew it.
It was a beautiful pebble harboring the milky way, but I couldn't even catch a clue on where to use it.
Even searching the book thoroughly, there was no content regarding this.
So I just decided to collect them.
Later when I gather a bit more, I’ll decorate the kids’ flower pots with these.
Since there are beautiful pebbles at the feet of the pretty fellows anyway, it seems it would be very good to look at.
As I was thinking that, Spiky approached before I knew it and tapped my foot, tuk tuk.
“Ah, sorry. I thought of something else for a moment.”
Spiky raised its spikes sharply as if sulking.
Of course, when my hand approached, it moved the spikes stealthily so I wouldn't get pricked.
“Hm, seems there are no injuries...”
I lifted Spiky and examined here and there, but as expected, it was perfectly fine without a single scratch.
No, rather it feels like it gained more weight?
Since I let it feast for 4 days consecutively recently, gloss spread on the stem, leaves, and petals.
It feels like it became chubby too.
Maybe because of that, it doesn't eat rice at home.
Thanks to that, I am eating the pork belly deliciously.
When I lifted the fellow like that, it entered the pocket on its own slither. Afterward, the appearance of closing the pocket cover by moving its leaves on its own.
This means ‘I’m done with work now, so I’ll take a nap.’
“Anyway, cute fellow.”
Recently, Spiky sleeps a lot.
If putting it in Pokemon terms, is it like the state right before evolving?
Whatever it is, if Spiky is satisfied, it doesn't matter.
Afterward, following the fixed routine, I opened the book and explored every corner of the 4th floor.
I explored all floors from 1st to 3rd, but unfortunately, I couldn't discover new plants.
And it seems the 4th floor will be the same.
“Is it because it is the Tutorial section as expected?”
Commonly, the 1st to 5th floors of the Tower are called the Tutorial section.
It’s not that the Tower taught that, but just something people named.
Anyway, actually, the conquest rate of that section converges to nearly 100%, and the death rate converges to 0%.
Globally, 1st to 5th floors are called Tutorial, and 5th to 10th floors are Adaptation Zone.
“They say the real danger is from the 10th floor.”
They say from the 11th floor, the difficulty perception changes drastically.
“Before that, I wish something that can help Spiky would appear...”
It was the part occupying my biggest worry recently.
Since Spiky is handling all combat alone, feeling like I became a bad parent hiding behind the child for no reason.
Thinking if there is any way to obtain a combat skill, equipment, or at least another combat plant to help Spiky.
More meticulously, I searched the 4th floor, but the result was the same.
After moving and planting the sleeping Spiky into the flower pot, I took out a can of beer after a long time and sat on the sofa.
Recently, due to the part-time job, Tower climbing, potion manufacturing, and studying herbology and alchemy in my own way.
Thanks to spending time fruitfully even reducing sleeping time, I lived without grasping how the world was turning.
However, today the boss is taking a break due to personal reasons, so I have free time.
“I should rest for at least a day. Or else burnout comes.”
Therefore, right now.
With the pork belly I bought in bulk to give to Spiky and a can of beer, I sat in front of the TV.
When I pressed the remote, the announcer’s excited voice was heard.
“Good things?”
And at the following words, I dropped the beer can I was holding onto the floor.
The following words didn't enter my ears.
“...Shit.”
I hit the jackpot.
“Se-hwa! Any injuries?”
“...None.”
“Really? It’s okay, so you can speak honestly.”
“...Really none. You know just by looking.”
“That... is true.”
Republic of Korea Awakened Management Bureau.
The waiting area for Elite Hunters currently being pushed by Korea.
To that place full of the best medical staff, precise inspection devices, and countless potions, Lee Se-hwa returned with a neat appearance without a single scratch.
“Just how did it happen? Until now you barely escaped suffering considerable injuries.”
A man with a massive build, Kim Su-ho, asked representing other Awakened around him.
“...Brother, wait a moment. I have something to think about.”
Lee Se-hwa hurriedly escaped from among the other elite Hunters whose attention was focused on her.
Hunters gathered to watch Lee Se-hwa’s conquest.
Precious colleagues and competitors.
It was a sorry thing to them, but Lee Se-hwa had something much more important than that right now.
Potion, where did I put that potion box?
Lee Se-hwa entered her room hurriedly without even receiving congratulations from colleagues.
She started rummaging wildly through the gifts piled up in a corner of her waiting room.
“Found it!!”
Golden engraving on a black box.
Lee Se-hwa, picking up the box giving off a premium feel, opened the box hurriedly.
Glass bottles containing liquid with a scarlet hue.
Because she used two during the 52nd floor conquest, only one remained now, but this is plenty.
Lee Se-hwa hurriedly picked up the card.
The content is not important.
What is important is the name written below that.
“D...”
Is it a foreigner?
No, looking at the post posted on the community yesterday, the possibility of being a Korean is high.
She entered the community hurriedly and searched for the user with the nickname D, but a message saying it is a withdrawn member floated up.
“If I knew it would be like this, I should have at least sent a message...!”
The reason she is excited like this was simple.
In this conquest, if it wasn't for the potion this person sent, she would have died with a high probability.
Even when the Management Bureau employee first delivered it saying it was a gift from a fan, Lee Se-hwa dismissed it as a joke.
How many crazy people wearing the mask of a fan were there.
Still, due to the considerably luxurious packaging, the sincerity contained in the card inside.
And the potion packaging appearing to be high-grade with a seal stamped, she thought about taking it to the next conquest.
Anyway, potions are items that must be kept as a truly last resort.
She had to use them when there was absolutely no method.
She made up her mind to take exactly two, no more, no less.
The 52nd floor arrived at like that.
The theme from 50th to 55th floors was Shadow.
A floor where the whole world is locked in darkness, and one has to hunt monsters popping out from a space where not a single point of light enters.
Even mobilizing all equipment that could be mobilized like night vision goggles, piercing the shadows was beyond her power.
From the stance of her using a sword, she had to face the fight purely with senses excluding vision.
Since she was someone who never neglected training, she kept her life during the two failures, but this time was different.
While dealing with the monster that lunged first, she was attacked in a bad spot and ended up having her sword taken away.
She took out a new sword from the inventory hurriedly, but since it wasn't a sword accustomed to her hand, it took time to pull up her senses.
However, the bastards didn't miss Lee Se-hwa’s gap.
A melee unfolded in an instant.
As the fellows hiding bodies in the darkness pounced in a swarm, it was easy to cut down those caught by senses, but Lee Se-hwa also had to endure considerable injuries.
A long time after the vicious battle of taking each other’s blood and flesh started.
It was Lee Se-hwa who cut down the most number of monsters totaling the 3 challenges.
Defeat 50 Crawlers.
Progress: 45/50
5.
When Lee Se-hwa’s body didn't move anymore, it was when only 5 remained.
Usually, she would have distributed stamina considering retreat, but this time the situation was different.
At that moment when not even stamina to retreat to the Safety Zone remained, the potion inside the inventory came to mind.
Thinking ‘Since I’m going to die anyway, let’s drink it just in case’, she picked up the potion emitting golden light, not Glorio’s potion.
She braced her mind to handle the shock caused by the potion, but the potion she drank restored the wounds of her whole body in an instant without any side effects.
Like that, she defeated the remaining 5 safely and succeeded in conquest.
Experiencing something like a miracle for an instant, she used the remaining potion once again.
Not only recovery of wounds, but she exited the Tower receiving the feeling that even mental stress due to fighting was alleviated.
So, right now.
Lee Se-hwa blamed her foolishness and uploaded a post on the community.
I beg of you.
-Lee Se-hwa-
Also thinking this was insufficient, she accepted the news phone interview proposal that came in just in time.
“Yes. Hello. This is Lee Se-hwa.”
> [Thank you for responding to the sudden interview request. Prior to the full-scale interview, I sincerely congratulate you on succeeding in the 52nd floor conquest this time.]
“Thank you.”
> [Many people are curious about this conquest.]
“I was lucky.”
> [Haha, as expected you are humble. Then what do you think is the biggest reason for the success of the conquest, Hunter Lee Se-hwa?]
“It was thanks to a gift a fan sent me.”
Then the anchor’s voice became louder.
“Haha, I am sorry about that. However, I will leave one word to the fan who might be listening to this interview.”
At this, Lee Se-hwa took a deep breath and continued speaking.
It was the moment when over 10,000 nicknames called D were created on all kinds of communities.
(End of Chapter)
— Translated by Prime Works —