Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Sparring
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“Ceiling!”
At Baek Yi-su’s shout, everyone whipped their heads toward the ceiling. There, defying gravity, stood the penguin boss upside down.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The moment Song Hyun spotted the boss monster, she pulled the trigger repeatedly. But the bullets didn’t touch it.
“Huh? Why?”
The penguin was just standing still on the ceiling, glaring at her, but the bullets merely chipped the surface.
“This doesn’t match the report.”
According to the expensive American strategy report the Association had shelled out for, it was just a very fast penguin monster—one solid hit would clear it naturally.
But the penguin had passed right through the bullets.
“Isn’t this guy uncatchable? Like Kamui or something.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Baek Yi-su, who’d been watching, chimed in, but no one got it.
“Nah, the info’s probably right.”
So Seori let out a chuckle, as if she’d figured something out, and everyone focused on her.
“That thing’s toying with us right now.”
“Peng?”
The penguin hanging from the ceiling tilted its head.
“I saw it—the little penguin bastard twisted its body to dodge the bullets.”
“Ah… no way.”
The boss dodged the bullets with minimal movement, then stood in the exact same pose as if nothing had happened.
“Guess it’s not Kamui after all.”
“What the hell does that even mean?”
“Go look it up. Get some culture.”
“Whir whir!”
“Should we lay down some AoE first?”
The guild members seemed to take it lightly, but So Seori didn’t see the situation as optimistic.
‘Way faster than expected.’
No climber in her party could catch that penguin with speed alone.
The Americans had probably handled it with wide-area attacks. But her current party had no one capable of AoE.
No Typhoon Storm Sorcerer, no bomb-user Jinky, no Gravity wielder—none of America’s top climbers.
Baek Yi-su, who pinned enemies with raw physical specs and slashed them.
Song Hyun, with high penetration but linear, single-point damage.
Luri with her one insane attack skill.
Her own breath was the most viable option, maybe.
From the reports, Iru Ri’s laser magic was too risky in this enclosed ceiling space.
“Luri, think you can land a hit?”
“……Too dangerous.”
“Whir whir.”
As expected.
That left her own wide-ranging breath. She signaled, and everyone got ready.
No need for long explanations. They were all thinking the same. Everyone would do what they could.
She nodded, and Iru Ri cast enhancement magic first.
She unleashed her breath toward the ceiling. She didn’t see the penguin dodge, but it probably had.
The rest chased it down, unloading attacks relentlessly.
This was simple whack-a-mole… no, whack-a-penguin. Just score one hit.
“Peng!”
But the penguin dodged mockingly, like it was child’s play.
When Baek Yi-su swung his sword, it instantaneous-shifted just out of range. When Song Hyun fired, it slipped away by a hair.
“Haaah!”
“Just… hit… already!”
They chased it for a full hour like that.
“Kuhk, cough.”
She kept breathing until her mana bottomed out. Her throat burned, and her vocal cords felt damaged—her voice started cracking.
The rest of the party wasn’t much better. Sweat poured like rain.
“Peng peng!”
Only that damn penguin remained fresh.
“Guild Leader… is this working? The igloo’s like a hall of mirrors now—my senses are off.”
Every spot her breath hit had turned mirror-smooth. Ceiling, walls, floor—all of it.
Using breath nonstop had turned the place into a mirror maze, tricking their brains.
“What do we do? We’ve got no AoE, cough!”
“I hate to agree with Yi-su, but Guild Leader, I think the same…”
They could only glare at the dancing penguin, panting heavily.
Poof.
“Huh?”
“Sis!”
“Shit!”
Apparently done playing, the penguin attacked. Annoyed by the ranged shots, it stabbed Song Hyun with its wooden sword—poof, she vanished.
“Goddamn penguin!”
Baek Yi-su swung his greatsword. Too bad it couldn’t keep up with the speed.
Poof.
Baek Yi-su vanished too.
“Rage…”
Iru Ri tried a last-ditch attack, but the penguin was faster.
Poof.
“Poof my ass.”
Poof.
With the poof sound, So Seori opened her eyes at the 62nd floor entrance.
“Guild Leader’s here too. Man, this is bullshit… That the bound thing?”
“At least it’s not deadly.”
“I’m out of mana and wiped…”
“Whir whir.”
So Seori sighed. It’d take an hour to trek back to the icy wall.
They’d cleared the mobs already, so just walking—but repeating this would kill morale first.
“Alright, this ain’t working. Let’s plan something new.”
They needed a different approach.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After shopping, I swapped numbers with Lee Baek-seon.
“I’ll DM you! Oppa.”
“Oppa?”
She bolted without answering. Must’ve had something urgent.
Oppa… the word felt off, like wearing ill-fitting clothes.
I knew I’d aged mentally far beyond others.
That’s why old-man habits slipped out sometimes, but I still tried acting and thinking like a 28-year-old.
Men don’t change much mentally with age, so it didn’t feel like acting.
Still, hearing that made my mental gears grind uncomfortably.
“Shall we head in now?”
“All done shopping?”
Shopping’s exhausting, so we decided to call it for the day.
“Just wanna rest today. And you should clock out too, Miss Ha Yang.”
“I’m fine. Thank you for worrying.”
Her face lit up at “clock out.” She’d looked troubled after meeting that guy ‘Kan’ earlier—glad to see her brighten.
“Don’t report meeting Kan.”
“Pardon? But my duty is…”
“Nothing happened, so it’s fine.”
I gave her a warm smile to reassure her. She hesitated, then agreed.
“Got it.”
“Good. Straight home to clock out?”
She’d said they’d exit the tower soon, so maybe good news by arrival.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Late into the night.
Guild Leader and the party still hadn’t emerged.
‘Not going as smoothly as thought.’
I’d bought 10,000 won worth of fish-shaped buns from a nearby vendor and was munching on the guild rooftop.
Iru Ri and So Seori had been so confident, but things must’ve dragged.
“Hehe, nom nom.”
No sleep anyway, so I figured I’d wait and congratulate them. But… two AM?
Lights dotted the streets, people bustling even this late.
Some unwinding with drinks and friends, some driving for work, others still slaving away.
‘When can I live like that?’
Chewing my bun, I watched from the rooftop. I wanted to blend in.
I didn’t want to return to the grimoire.
Couldn’t sleep well, but lying in bed or forcing myself up here late was for that reason.
The grimoire was just me, alone.
Nights were lonely. But I liked nights like this.
No light, wind, or moon in that void.
Thinking back, I’d been alone even before the grimoire.
I wanted to connect, share life with anyone. Coward that I was, I lacked the guts to approach first.
Still, I felt lucky now.
No friends before the grimoire either.
Orphaned young, shy and passive—I struggled to make friends.
Older, I lacked courage and knew no way to befriend.
Now? Everyone seemed to care. Sure, because I was weird and novel.
Not quite human. Those who’d crossed paths or knew my story showed interest.
Mentally matured, I at least didn’t push away those who approached.
Crying, laughing, sharing emotions with people—it was more beautiful than expected.
The miracle folks I’d met were mostly good people.
In that sense, becoming this grimoire-trapped weirdo brought me closer to society.
I wasn’t alone anymore, grimoire or not.
“What’re you thinking so hard about?”
“Just the view.”
A familiar voice from behind.
“What’s out there?”
“Those people. Hustling even this late, right?”
“It’s dawn already? Oh, gotta use polite speech.”
“No need. Whatever’s comfy. What brings you here?”
Kan leaned on the railing beside me, gazing at the same scene.
“Why no surprise?”
“Why would I be?”
Odd answer, but he accepted it.
“You know who I am now, yeah?”
“Pretty famous.”
Kan flashed a smile I’d never seen. Jackpot. Moon Byul hadn’t changed his demeanor. A rare ‘equal.’
Moon Byul offered him one of the two remaining buns.
“What’s this?”
“Korea’s famous winter snack.”
He eyed the fish-shaped bun curiously, then bit the tail.
“Whoa, this is legit good.”
“Right?”
“Come to China sometime. I’ll treat you.”
“Maybe if I get the chance.”
I watched the streets; Kan watched me.
“What’s your deal? No info anywhere.”
He’d had his secretary dig, but it was clean. Like dropped from nowhere. Fake ID, no mana signature.
Curiosity drew him here late. Sensing presence on the roof was pure luck.
“You’re… strong, right?”
“Dunno. Hard to say.”
Letting sudden Kan stay was a whim. Didn’t wanna be alone.
Looked pathetic munching alone on the roof.
“Spar with me.”
“No.”
I shot it down flat. No reason to.
Kan’s face lit like a curious kid. Kinda dangerous.
“I’ll go easy, no death.”
“Pass.”
“Grant you a wish.”
“You can’t fulfill mine.”
Wish? Like some drinking game?
Now a weird Chinese guy’s latched on.
“Korea’s tower checkup—you did that, right? How?”
Moon Byul faltered slightly. So Seori swore it confidential, yet this afternoon acquaintance spilled it.
I asked warily.
“What’re you talking about?”
“Playing dumb? Whatever. Korea’s at 62nd now? I’m tackling 64th. Want help with 63rd?”
“……Why offer me that?”
“Wanna know your strength.”
I pondered. Didn’t know his power, but a 63rd-floor clearer would hugely help Korea.
Now a climber by trade, time to contribute a bit.
And curiosity struck. How strong was I? Against the continent’s top?
“Safely?”
“Of course! Easy mode, friend!”
Kan looked thrilled.