Awakening (1)
Three years ago.
Messages appeared before the eyes of people around the world.
The Black Tower has been randomly generated at various locations worldwide.
The time limit will cause the tower to collapse if exceeded.
A 30-day grace period has been granted.
Time limit: 29d 23h 59m
The tower had appeared at a construction site 3km away from the site contracted by my father's company.
Construction was at the final stage, but the moment the tower appeared, work was immediately halted.
It was said that misfortune follows misfortune.
Not only had the tower appeared, but the company that had ordered the construction unilaterally canceled the contract.
Naturally, legal disputes followed.
But it ended with my father losing the case.
It was because of the clause in the contract that said the contract could be terminated in the event of force majeure such as a national disaster.
Thus, tens of billions of won in debt remained for our family.
To save the family that had become debtors overnight, my choice was to become a tower porter.
It was said that the inside of the tower had high mana density, and research showed that the awakening probability was several times higher.
If I became a hunter, it wouldn't be impossible to repay the tens of billions in debt.
“The problem is that being a porter isn't easy either.”
Due to the tower's characteristics, movement between floors was only possible through point locations.
In other words, if the exploration was short, it could last days, or even months if long.
During that period, the porter had to handle everything from setting up the campsite to carrying luggage and simple errands.
Fortunately, after about three years, I had become quite familiar with it.
“The tent is set up!”
After setting up the campsite as usual, I said.
“Uh, thanks. I know it's the third shift today too.”
Third shift.
It meant the night watch.
“Please be gentle today.”
It was already the most tiring mid-time.
On top of that, if an ambush came at night, the next day's condition would be the worst.
...
'Ha. Five times is playing around.'
The night ambush happened a total of five times in a row.
When morning came, despite resting, everyone's eyes were full of fatigue.
'Still, I have to do it.'
I took out the dried meat from my backpack and said.
“...Would you like to eat?”
“Yeah. We should.”
The party members received the dried meat I distributed with weak strength.
“Ugh. Just smelling the dried meat makes me want to throw up.”
“Hyung. I'm going to eat ramyeon as soon as this climb is over.”
“I want my mom's home-cooked food.”
This exploration had already lasted a week.
During this time, we hadn't eaten anything except dried meat.
The reason was that there was no food that was easy to carry and had sufficient calories to replace it.
It was also difficult to take proper rest, and we ate the same food every day.
'If only someone had set up a hotel in the tower.'
I imagined meaningless thoughts.
In fact, everyone would sympathize with this.
Basically, tower explorations last for weeks, and during that time, chewing on dried meat for weeks would make you feel like a person going mad.
The party members' reactions weren't in vain.
After finishing breakfast, the hunt resumed.
My role as porter was to set up rear guards while party members fought, and after the hunt, to collect magic stones.
It looked like honey, but carrying a backpack weighing about 30kg including camping equipment, food, and magic stones wasn't easy.
This hunt had lasted quite a long time.
Since they were people working for their livelihood, sometimes when monsters appeared well, they hunted without stopping, like now.
It's like rowing when the tide comes in.
However, when it was really the limit, Han Seok-gu said.
“Take a break for a moment.”
Upon hearing that, everyone collapsed to the floor.
I immediately put down the heavy backpack on the floor and leaned my body into it.
“It looks delicious.”
It was the moment I was enjoying the honey-like rest.
The floor slightly trembled.
“...Did anyone feel the vibration just now?”
“Vibration? Don't say ominous things. It must be a hallucination.”
Is that so?
Probably because I was tired and hallucinating—
Boom.
'Shit. It wasn't a hallucination.'
This time, it was clearly felt.
“It wasn't a hallucination.”
I said, but Han Seok-gu's gaze was already elsewhere.
'What is he looking at?'
I looked at where Han Seok-gu was looking.
“Insane, why is that guy here......”
A green-skinned, muscular body.
An elite monster that appears with extremely rare probability on the 5th floor we're currently exploring.
An orc.
A guy strong enough that we couldn't fight yet.
Han Seok-gu immediately ordered a retreat.
I hurriedly packed the luggage and tried to follow, but.
'Shit. It's too heavy.'
The problem was that the backpack was too heavy.
The distance from the party members gradually widened.
In the end, I shouted.
“Could you carry the backpack too?”
Did my cry reach them? The party members who were running desperately turned back for a moment.
“Sorry. For our sake, can you stall for as much time as possible?”
“Ne..?”
Did I mishear?
But as the party members moved further away.
Probably not.
I turned back.
The distance to the orc was about 50 meters.
If I went like this, I would definitely be caught.
I threw the backpack carelessly on the floor.
All the magic stones I had hunted were in it, but if I died, they would be useless anyway.
With the body lighter, the distance to the orc started to widen again.
There were two ways to survive in this situation.
The first was to find the point location to move to the next floor.
The second was to find another awakening party and request help.
The problem was that not only the point location, but even the traces of the awakening person were not visible.
So, I ran for a long time.
“Shit.”
I faced the dead end.
“Kuiik!”
In front was the orc. Behind was the wall.
There was no more place to escape.
“...Is this the end?”
At that moment.
You have successfully awakened.
You have become the 'Hotel Manager'.
“What..?”
“Sta, status window.”
What I needed to check now was the skill to turn the situation around.
▶ Name: Han Doyun
▶ Trait: Hotel Manager (EX)
▶ Level: Lv.1
▶ Stats: Strength 5 Agility 7 Vitality 5 Mana 0
▶ [Unique Skill]
■ Install Hotel Entrance
■ Hotel Management (Lock)
▶ [Combat Skill]
■ None
'...No combat skills?'
In the end, I had to believe that the only unique skill was the entrance installation.
Please, let the skill that can turn the situation be one that can help now!
“Install entrance.”
Hotel entrance installed.
“......”
But there was no change.
The orc was getting closer.
“Even after awakening, dying so miserably?”
Even if I accidentally awakened, getting the ability to turn the situation around was another story.
At that moment.
Kwaaang!
A loud noise rang out.
“What, what is it?”
I turned back, and something appeared from the wall.
A very luxurious door that didn't match the tower.
Hotel entrance installation completed!
I unconsciously knew.
To survive, I had to go there.
While the orc was staggering from the previous loud noise, I successfully entered the inside of the door as quickly as possible.
The orc, who realized late, rushed at me.
Hotel Rule No. 1
Hostile lifeforms are prohibited from entering the hotel.
The orc collided with something and was forcibly bounced out.
“Hotel rule..?”
But the situation didn't end there.
The guy raised his heavy body and wrapped his head with both arms this time.
It seemed like he was about to charge with his weight.
'He won't break, right?'
The guy charged at the door again.
However.
Kwaaaang!
With a shock several times stronger than before, the distant orc was bounced out.
How strong the shock was, the guy soon turned into light.
Tuk.
A magic stone fell in that spot.
“Is he alive......”
Only then did I sit on the floor.
While being chased by the orc to death, I faced the dead end.
Then, by chance, I succeeded in awakening.
And the ability I awakened.
“A safe zone that monsters can't enter......”
I don't need to explain how great this ability is.
“More importantly, where is this?”
A high ceiling and a wide hall.
On the walls were old-fashioned wall clocks and expensive-looking paintings.
The floor had a red carpet laid out, and far away, a front desk that looked like 'what you'd see in a hotel' was visible.
'What you'd see in a hotel?'
I hadn't been able to pay attention to the skill check earlier.
It seemed like I had seen the word hotel when awakening.
▶ Name: Han Doyun
▶ Trait: Hotel Manager
▶ Level: Lv.1
▶ Stats: Strength 5 Agility 7 Vitality 5 Mana 0
In the trait position, the firmly placed word 'Hotel Manager'.
What it meant was simple.
I am the owner of this hotel.