Overslept
I sat on a bench in the nearby park, sipping a drink.
The lukewarm beverage from the box tasted like absolute shit.
"Hyung-nim moved out, huh..."
On the way here, I'd tried calling him again just in case.
Of course, no answer, as expected.
A move.
It made sense. He'd lived in that house for over five years.
So I didn't think much of it at first.
"But why leave his own house behind to move?"
If it weren't for the fact that the house was in his name.
The moment I turned eighteen and jumped into this grind, hyung-nim already owned his place.
Sure, it was bought with a bank loan, but he'd hauled heavy cement bags day in, day out to pay it off.
Even his coin trading was scrimping on meals and gas from his pocket money to clear the debt faster.
A guy who saved money more obsessively than I did.
For him to hand over the house and vanish somewhere else?
"...This is weird."
Really weird.
No need for that at all.
And even if he did move, why dodge calls?
Too many suspicious bits.
He should've made it down fine back then.
When the construction site suddenly shook.
Low chance he got trapped and fell.
Plenty of time to react.
Plus, if he'd been in an accident, the calls wouldn't even connect.
But they do.
Hyung-nim's alive.
Just not picking up.
That's what makes it weird.
I've known him five years.
He's not the type to ghost for a day or two, let alone a week.
If he entered the Tutorial Tower, at least his wife would answer.
She knows my name.
So why the hell not?
Why ignore the calls?
To me, with no family, that couple felt like family.
Most human folks I knew.
And now they're gone without a trace.
Can't help worrying.
Need to find them, but how—
...
Bzzz.
Vibration from the pocket opposite the one with Cheori.
I reached in and pulled out my phone.
Bright screen.
A text from "S-Rank Almighty SeongYuMi-nim-nim-nim".
Ah, right. Her.
Hunter from the Association—a government employee.
Second-highest rank: S-grade.
Her number just saved to my phone.
I smirked faintly and called Seong Yu-mi right away.
-Black Dragon? What's up so sudden?
Connected after one ring.
I cleared my throat and asked into the receiver.
"Seong Yu-mi Hunter. You said call if I needed anything, right?"
-Well... yeah?
"Need some help. Can you?"
-Tell me first.
I nodded and explained everything to Seong Yu-mi.
She listened, then...
-...Yeah, that's suspicious. No contact for a week?
Good, she's hooked.
-So the house fully transferred to the tenant side?
"Not sure, but probably."
-Same thought. Tried the wife too?
"Obviously."
Before entering Evergreen Tower.
No answer from either.
-Name and age of this hyung-nim?
"Shin Seon-woo. Thirty."
-Got it. Address?
"Texting it."
Easier than reciting.
Copied the saved address and sent.
-Received. Personal info, so can't share details unless it's clearly off.
"Yeah."
-But any trace or red flags, I'll ping you ASAP.
"Thanks."
-Leave it to me. Gotta go. You too, Black Dragon.
"You too, Seong Yu-mi Hunter."
Click.
Pocketed the phone.
Asked the most trustworthy person right now.
Now wait for her report.
"Home first."
Sun's setting already.
Out all day, body even more drained.
Woke from phone buzz, now Cheori's gnawing my padding, hungry.
Only juice all day—me too.
"Cheori."
"Kkung!"
Pissed to the max.
No poison, but venomous glare.
No teeth, can't really bite. Prized it off and said,
"Wanna chicken?"
"Kkung?"
Tilted head like "what's that?"
I chuckled at the reaction and stood.
"C'mon. Time for a new world."
A taste beyond mere minerals.
* * *
Munch munch.
I tore into a drumstick, eyeing Cheori.
Staring down the golden market fried whole chicken.
Cut it up fearing it'd choke—how long this standoff?
"Won't kill you. Hot and fresh is best. Eat."
"Kyuuung..."
Sighed, squeezed eyes shut, chomped the breast.
Gulp.
Swallowed down.
Eyes popped open at the plate.
"Kyu, kyuuung?!"
Tasty, right?
I laughed as it dove headfirst, devouring.
"Here, more."
"Kkung!"
Nom nom nom.
Bowl empty quick, tore more breast—eats eagerly.
Pets shouldn't have seasoned food, but monster? Fine.
Tore breast for it, gnawed drumstick.
Tasty.
Chicken only on special days during grind.
Aimed for Han River view apartment owner.
Scraping for semi-basement escape—no chicken budget.
Saved hard, but today special.
First leisure since awakening hunter.
Tutorial exit, Black Dragon rampaged sudden.
Slimes boring after a few?
Now I accepted, so 'Black Dragon' quiet.
Leisurely drumstick time.
"Kkung! Kkung!"
"Ah, sorry."
Daydreamed, forgot Cheori.
Set drumstick down, tore breast to its plate.
Dove in, scarfed.
Watched fondly.
"Tasty?"
"Kkung!"
Good.
Perfect.
I hate breast anyway.
Life tough enough—no chewy meat.
Chicken? Drumsticks only.
Too pricey before.
Now fulfilled.
Grinned, grabbed drumstick from second bird—breasts gone.
Sister-in-law happy, brother-in-law happy.
Bliss for all.
Thirty minutes later.
"Stomach got a beggar in it..."
Chicken not enough, polished off days-old lunchboxes.
Never eaten this much ever.
"More amazing it all fits."
Could eat more.
No energy to fetch, though.
Patted full belly, yawned hugely.
"Sleepy..."
"Kyuuung..."
Full = sudden drowsiness.
"Nap time."
Report at least a day away.
Sleep till then.
Flopped into bed.
Out in one second.
* * *
"Shin Seon-woo..."
Tap tap.
Graceful fingers danced in dim office.
Seong Yu-mi scanned screen fast, frowned.
"...Why nothing?"
All info in.
Vivid testimony too.
But no trace of 'Shin Seon-woo' anywhere.
"No way."
Planned quick finish for rest—won't be.
Sighed long, vowed tomorrow, shut down PC.
Moon outside tall Association window now sky-center.
* * *
"Ugh..."
Blink.
Rubbed eyes, sat up, stretched hugely.
"Aigoo, bones aching..."
Crack crack.
Back wrong harmony from stretch alone.
Patted stiff back, shuffled to fridge.
"...Thirsty."
Throat parched raw.
Uncapped, gulped cool water straight.
Finally alive.
Wiped mouth with hand, stowed bottle, blinked.
"...Slept like a rock."
Body feather-light.
Twisted, stretched light—felt great.
Bounced to bathroom.
"Whew. Refreshed."
Steam wafting, out from wash, toweled hair, bedroom.
Changed comfy clothes, then remembered.
"Cheori... where? Gone?"
Pre-sleep, confirmed by bed.
Woke—vanished—
...
...
Chomp chomp.
Locked eyes with Cheori straining for my phone.
Ignored me, full effort devour.
"Hey, can't eat that."
"Kkung!"
Snatched from mouth—pissed cry, nips hand.
No teeth, no pain. Why so mad?
Dangled by right index, powered phone.
"8 AM? Up early."
Felt refreshed—thought noon.
Muttered, spotted date—eyes wide.
"Huh?"
Blink.
Blinked at calendar, jaw dropped.
"T-Today's the 24th?"
No way.
How sleep three days...
"Kyuuuung!"
Cheori's fury wail.
Eyes super pissed.
Come to think...
Woke super thirsty.
Like days without water.
"Hm."
All adds up—really three days.
Got it now. Sighed, unhooked from thumb.
"S-sorry. Didn't know it'd be that long."
"Kkung!"
"Sorry."
Felt tired, but three days? Who guesses.
Set fuming Cheori down, checked phone.
Two days old—slept through.
Texted back: 'Fine, just keep investigating.'
No complaints.
S-rank busy. Something came up.
Grateful she's helping.
Stretched long, patted shoulders, eyed sulky Cheori.
"Cheori, gear up."
"...Kkung!"
"Tower time. Coming?"
"...Kkung?"
Right, doesn't get "tower".
So...
"World Tree visit."
"Kkung!"
Finally—scrambles up leg.
Shoulder perch familiar. I whispered,
"Minerals first in tower. Hang tight."
"Kkung kkung."
Like "damn right". Throaty agreement.
Snickered, grabbed bag from first Evergreen entry.
No instant reply, right?
She said wait leisurely.
Days to months maybe.
Better climb tower than idle.
Next time, eat/sleep in tower regardless.
Tower: no hunger, no sleep.
Exit: all hits at once.
Else no binge/sleep like this.
"Gear... same as before fine."
Unknown exit time.
Pack basics good.
Nothing but lunchboxes removed.
Sling bag one shoulder, activated skill.
Evergreen Tower
Entering Floor 5
Shaaa—!
Light from feet.
Floating sensation, vision flickers.
Vision clears.
"Kieeeek!"
Face-to-face with roaring Bloody Mantis.
What the actual fuck.