Resources Secured, Knowledge Shared

Jin So-yul checked the scenario message lingering in the air.

At the edge of her vision, a thin ribbon of sandstorm swirled faintly.

The afterimage left behind even after the constellation had departed pointed toward the magic circle.

Jin So-yul stored the surrounding magic stones in her #Inventory and began following its trajectory.

The streets of Seoul beyond the studio apartment remained utterly ordinary. Cars passed by, people walked about—the everyday scenery. But the towering spire piercing the sky right in the heart of downtown changed everything.

The sandstorm seemed visible only to Jin So-yul. Passersby showed no reaction whatsoever as they went on their way.

She followed its path. After walking briskly for about fifteen minutes,

her view opened onto ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a massive redevelopment complex.

A single crane stood halted, flanked by two half-finished concrete buildings. The materials left scattered across the site dwarfed anything from the previous location—piles of concrete, bundles of rebar, angle pipes, even H-beams.

Construction must have halted the moment the tower appeared, leaving everything frozen in time.

Jin So-yul peered through a gap in the barriers, swallowing a gasp of admiration.

"……This scale."

It was on another level entirely. Considering her #Inventory's limits, she'd probably need days to haul it all out in batches.

"Space is running short. I should just note the locations of the other sites and come back later. Or find a separate storage area."

"Sorry to take so much……but saving the country comes first, right?"

After rationalizing it that far, Jin So-yul checked the remaining four sites as well. She didn't really need to visit them all, but clearing out one spot entirely pricked at her conscience.

In her mind, she pictured the Wandering Sand of Despair. A constellation whose appearance and actions matched perfectly.

There must have been a reason for her to descend like that, Jin So-yul dared to speculate.

"Wandering Sand of Despair……."

"Ah, nothing."

A tale from distant memories, back when other hunters pressed ahead with the climbs. Days spent blocking overflows on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lower floors, far from the front lines. Times when she could only watch the early S-rank hunters from afar.

The Wandering Sand of Despair had held one of the front-line pillars in Korea. For such a mighty constellation to take interest in this little peninsula was fortune itself.

'Someone once said she was a constellation who cared only for humanity.'

No one truly knew her heart. She was far too impulsive.

But one thing was certain……she cherished her apostles above all.

Until other constellations, treating the world like a toy, schemed to wipe them out—and she vanished.

'This time, I'll make sure that doesn't happen.'

Lee Min-ah……the worst terrorist.

That woman was surely still alive somewhere in Korea.

Jin So-yul shook off the thought and quickened her pace.

Returning to her studio apartment after touring the sites without delay, Jin So-yul slumped onto the edge of the bed to catch her breath.

Today's events replayed in her mind: gaining new power, field-testing it, witnessing a constellation's descent up close, and securing materials via the scenario.

A mountain of things to process, but rest would have to wait.

She reached into the air, opening the interface. One of the features unlocked after clearing floor 1 of the tower: the Climber Community.

A bulletin board accessible only to those who'd cleared floor 1.

She scrolled through the posts.

Mostly questions, and even those had few proper replies. With so few climbers surviving floor 1, info-sharing was nonexistent.

Jin So-yul quietly tapped the new post button.

She poured in the details.

Floor 1: Goblin weak points and behavior patterns.

Floor 2: Countering warrior combo attacks.

Floor 3: Maze layout basics and archer firing intervals.

Floor 4: Matching hobgoblin speed.

Floor 5: Chieftain and escort dynamics.

Proper mana absorption: Sense the surrounding air in a focused state and draw it inward. It might not click at first, but the tower's high density boosts success. Best to practice outside first for safety.

Magic stone uses: Weapon enhancement, shop sales, crafting.

Shop basics: TP currency, recovery potions.

Return scrolls post-floor 1 for safe returns. Floor 2 clear enables anytime entry without heading to the tower. Weakened floors post-clear have zero resistance to modern firearms, and so on.

Nine years of experience distilled into concise intel.

Of course, not everything. Some climbers would abuse it, harming the innocent majority.

She omitted themes, hidden pieces, constellation info. Boss scaling, overflow rules—same deal.

'This should suffice for now.'

Her plans solidified. She and Kim Woo-jin would lead the front line. Add more apostles if her constellation recruited them.

But even then, single digits at best. Higher floors allowed up to ten in a party, shifting to group tactics with role division.

And overflows. Cleared floors spilled monsters if neglected. They couldn't assault the front and patrol lows.

Rear support was essential.

She added a closing line.

Appended a disposable email and hit post.

The military post earlier guaranteed a response soon.

"This post isn't really about sharing info."

"For me and Kim Woo-jin to focus on the front line, we need rear support. Blocking overflows requires mid-tier hunters cycling through low-floor sweeps."

One major cause of past deaths.

"Control the info flow to pace things, draw in the government."

"……Anyway, that's the plan."

With the Wandering Sand of Despair watching, Jin So-yul held back. Her own constellation, the Observer of the 0th Dimension, didn't seem to want that.

"Anyway……I'll extend the hand first. The info provider holds the reins, avoiding past mistakes. Floor 5 clears? Government can't refuse."

The government would tackle the tower inevitably, deploying military and hunters. The issue: direction, leadership.

Government first meant their control net, operating under it.

But leaking info proactively flipped the script.

"Thank you, Constellation."

Her finger hit post.

Now visible to all floor 1 clearers.

No instant reactions, but it'd spread. Military entrants would relay upward fast. Other nations noticing? Fewer casualties overall.

One message from the Wandering Sand of Despair. Censored, unreadable.

Jin So-yul stared at the name, murmuring to herself.

"Lady Wandering Sand of Despair……hope you're well."

Jin So-yul chuckled softly and closed the interface.

Stretching with a long yawn,

"Tomorrow, floor 6. Prep's solid this time, and #Inventory needs real combat practice."

"I can do it, right……? It's not just killing a few monsters anymore."

"Sometimes I wonder. Can I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pull this off……?"

"……Thank you, Constellation. I'll make it happen. I can do this."

Through the tiny studio window, the night sky stretched out. The tower's peak vanished beyond the clouds.

One certainty from today: she wasn't alone.

A constellation watched over her, Kim Woo-jin fought alongside at the front, and even a figure from memory joined the journey.

The tower she'd climbed solo before now offered a different path.

"I'll rest now, Constellation. Things get busy tomorrow."