Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: I'm the Senior, Senior!
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"Do-yoon oppa!"
Someone tugged at Do-yoon's steps as he headed back to his private lounge to shake off his fatigue.
"Huh?"
He turned his head and saw Jeong A-hyeon with a bright expression.
"Heading to the lounge?!"
"Yeah. Gonna wash up and rest a bit."
"After that, cafe... coffee. Cool?"
"A-hyeon, don't bother Do-yoon..."
Jo Ha-rin scolded her from the side, but this time, she didn't back down.
'Not yet, not yet!'
Jeong A-hyeon secretly wished to herself.
That to create a truly family-like atmosphere, they needed to pull Do-yoon a little closer to their side.
"Alright, I'll do some maintenance first, then head to the cafe in about an hour."
"Really?! See! Do-yoon oppa says it's fine too!"
"Do-yoon, if it's a hassle, just say no."
Jo Ha-rin gave him an out, considering his condition, but Do-yoon wasn't feeling particularly tired.
'Another blessing from the tower, I suppose.'
Inside, he was rolling on the brink of death, but the moment he stepped out, he felt fine.
Do-yoon was gradually getting used to these changes.
"I'm really okay."
Jo Ha-rin, still looking skeptical, headed to her own lounge first.
The remaining A-hyeon and Do-yoon promised to meet at the cafe and decided to sort out what needed doing right away.
-Splash...
As Do-yoon showered under the hot water, he habitually opened the gallery.
💬 Boss Mob Gallery — Anonymous [So when's the newbie showing up? Asking for the 4th time] — Anonymous [This guy's really ghosting us? Why hasn't he shown?] — Anonymous [At this point, he's just our adopted kid, waiting on purpose lol] — Anonymous [Bosslings gonna die~] — Anonymous [So who's everyone's favorite hunter?] — Anonymous [So succubus graduation condition is sex?] — Anonymous [Wonder if a knight on a white horse will show up~] Some in the gallery were desperately summoning Do-yoon like he was their adopted child, but he had real-life matters to sort out first.
So he decided on a quick status update for now.
⭐ Top Post — (My Post) Title: Newbie's Back! Got some stuff to say but wait a sec lol Have to sort some real-life crap when I get back, then I'll update properly. — Reply No wtf, making us wait more? — Reply Just bite your tongue and die? — Reply I've been living for the newbie trolling fun, and you're just leaving it like this? — (My Post) Yeah... gotta build up real life too. — Reply Sucked all our honey dry and now you're getting cozy elsewhere? — Reply Oppa always real with me only? Oppa always real with me only? Oppa always real with me only? — Reply (Frog boss mob howling meme) — Reply (Muscular boss mob sobbing meme) "Oof."
Do-yoon skipped past the photos of tactical nukes being dropped in retaliation and finished his quick wash-up.
He scrubbed away the sweat-soaked body and the stench from tower activities.
Then he headed to the cafe where Jeong A-hyeon was waiting.
-Slide...
Beyond the smoothly opening cafe glass door, his eyes met A-hyeon's, who was already sipping her coffee.
Her cheeks were faintly flushed, suggesting she'd just showered too.
"Been waiting?"
"Ah, no! I just got here too!"
A-hyeon beamed brightly upon spotting Do-yoon.
Her golden retriever-like reaction upon seeing someone gave Do-yoon a strange sense of danger.
He was certain.
She must've made guys cry in school.
'Hazardous.'
Do-yoon steadied himself and ordered a coffee.
This time, sweeter than last, perfectly mixed to his familiar taste.
He slurped the steaming coffee and sat across from A-hyeon.
"..."
Sudden silence descended.
A-hyeon, who had impulsively dragged Do-yoon out, had nothing to say.
And Do-yoon, here for the stated purpose of coffee, had nothing particular either.
'What do hunters usually talk about?'
Do-yoon pondered briefly.
Hunters would naturally talk about tower strategies.
How to conquer the tower better, safer, more efficiently.
So.
"Thanks for the help this time too."
"Eh, yeah?"
"The other hunters' levels. Compared to me, they're insanely high. You too, A-hyeon."
"Ah... yeah."
"But you still came down to an easy floor like the 2nd. Thanks. Everyone's probably busy with their own stuff."
No matter how promising Do-yoon was, hunters ten times his level coming down to the early floors was a loss for them.
It was all solely for Do-yoon's safety.
Do-yoon wasn't some freeloader; he gave his all each time toward clearing layers.
"N-no...!"
A-hyeon's ears turned red as she spoke.
"We all do better together... Half-forced draft or not, if we work hard, we get hero treatment, right?!"
"True."
"Yeah!"
With that, A-hyeon stared at Do-yoon again.
There was a bit of forced closeness, but in front of Do-yoon, she inexplicably tensed up.
'I'm the senior here.'
Was it okay for the senior to fumble with a junior?
For Do-yoon, her junior right there, she as direct senior had to lead properly.
'Ugh, uweeeck!!'
Her shameful past tormented her.
Memories of the rookie hunter gagging at goblin corpses.
Back then, she'd received tons of help from comrades.
Without sturdy allies like Ji-hyeok or Ha-rin unnie, adaptation would've been harder.
'Everyone's good people.'
A-hyeon truly loved people's warmth.
'Yun-ha unnie too.'
Cha Yun-ha's constant friend-like presence was irreplaceably vital.
"..."
Eventually, A-hyeon's gaze turned to Kim Do-yoon before her.
A harmless-looking face, inscrutable thoughts.
Suddenly bursting onto the scene overnight—
Passing the awakener exam with absurd S-rank.
Clearing up to the 2nd floor in a flash.
Contrasting sharply with her trembling daily terror, A-hyeon felt a strange distance.
Forcing closeness might stem from that awkwardness.
'He's a good person.'
His pure thanks just now, always giving his best in clears...
'Kirek! Kiririk!'
'Sigh, not cutting well.'
Mid-thought.
Do-yoon's serious face slicing goblins flashed.
Blood smeared on cheeks, like butchery not hunting.
That brutality impossible for an ordinary person.
'Good person...?'
A-hyeon unwittingly sensed dissonance from Do-yoon.
Her spine straightened rigidly as she watched him.
"...?"
"Ah."
Like prey freezing before a predator.
'Why am I like this...?'
A-hyeon had never hesitated with people before.
Everyone always liked her.
Knowing warm eyes would return, she stayed bubbly and fresh.
But, but.
From this man Do-yoon, expecting that warmth felt hard.
Seasoned, detached eyes.
Cold precision swinging weapons at ferocious monsters without hesitation.
'I-I'm the senior?!'
She wanted to back away, hide behind Yun-ha.
But couldn't show hesitation before her junior.
'Gotta steel myself...!'
A-hyeon steeled herself alone and looked at Do-yoon.
"I'm your senior, right, Do-yoon oppa?!"
"Uh... yeah?"
"Then dump all your troubles on this senior! That's what seniors do!"
Troubles...?
Do-yoon thought briefly.
None really.
Everyone kind, tower progress smooth.
"Troubles? None right now. Everyone's great."
"Ah... really?"
"Yeah."
"Th-this isn't right...?"
"...?"
The ideal senior guiding hesitant junior faded away.
Plans dissolving like a mirage, left with that predator presence.
'Failed.'
A-hyeon was convinced.
Of a future where fully grown hunter Do-yoon matched her.
'A-hyeon, why so airheaded. How'll you strategize like that?'
'O-oppa! But I'm the senior...!'
'Hunters prioritize results. Life's not easy, A-hyeon.'
Boom!
Her mind painted her position eroding.
'F-fucked.'
She cautiously met eyes.
Do-yoon questioning her awkwardness.
Deep despair in locked gazes; A-hyeon meekly bowed her head.
An awkwardness never felt in her life.
'Why am I really like this...?'
Never so cautious with anyone.
She was light; people liked that.
But this situation.
"A-hyeon."
Do-yoon's call shattered her thoughts.
A-hyeon startled.
"Y-yes?"
"Yun-ha's backline DPS, and you're healer, right?"
"Ah... yes."
"I'll grind hard to protect the backline properly."
Regardless of A-hyeon's despair, Do-yoon brimmed with position thoughts.
Tower conquest.
For that, he had to quickly stand beside comrades.
"So until then, overlook my greenness."
Do-yoon said with an awkward smile.
"...Ah."
Those last words swept away the blockage in her heart.
"Wanted to time this chat forever, finally did."
Do-yoon added a few words, then slipped away seeing no response.
'Still rough on her?'
Tower fatigue varied per person.
Musing maybe he'd held her back, Do-yoon returned to lounge to check gallery.
"Ah?"
Left alone, A-hyeon grasped the situation late.
No proper goodbye, but curiosity warmed her more than sorry.
'What is this...?'
Relief.
Like a beast baring no claws, offering its back to pet.
A-hyeon hugged this first-time feeling, lingering in the cafe's afterglow.
#
(My Post) Title: Yeah Yeah Bro's Got It
Back in his room, Do-yoon dove straight into the gallery.
⭐ Top Post — (My Post) 2nd floor clear thanks to boss gallery peeps ㅇㅇ... Grabbed the Ugly Green Guy, snagged that chest-expanding hidden piece too. — Reply Actually graduated him? — Reply That boss gallery cake turning real? Newbie actually graduated a boss? — Reply What order is this;; Why graduate lowbies first!! — Reply lmao can't just rap battle dive mid-layers with newbie yet — Aged Wine is... Hoe~! Newbie dear, you're unhurt...? — (My Post) ㅇㅇ Totally fine. — Reply Seeing the bullshit replies, yeah he's good. The gallery ignited like time had resumed.
📰 New Post Title: Ahh Ugly Green Guy, He... -(Ugly goblin meme) Was a fine lowbie newbie doormat... May he rest easy there... Rest my ass ㅅㅂ Dared to graduate first in gallery? No turn respect? Ugh stomach hurts ㅅㅂ — Reply Curveball crazy; — Reply lmao honestly jealous af — Reply Newbie you killed himnewbie you killed himnewbie you killed himnewbie you killed himnewbie you killed him — Reply So wtf happened? Greenie didn't even know his grad condition; Gallery members were on pins and needles.
What did he do to find the hidden piece and graduate?
📰 New Post (My Post) Title: So Here's How It Went Down... Did the fan meet thing like 1st floor Captured goblins as instructed Fought Greenie too But this fucker got some weird resonance, enlightened solo Memories back or whatever Then figured his own hidden piece, spoiled me Soul high-five per condition, squeezed some rewards ㅇㅇ — Reply Realized his own grad condition? — Reply Teacher what does that mean — Reply ㅅㅂ What have I been doing?? Just one real-life meet with newbie and ancestors' memories flood back — Reply Why's it blacking out lol — Reply Dizzy lmao — Paper Enthusiast What rewards? — (My Post) Mass EXP, small mana stones, snatched Greenie's sword too? — Reply ? — Reply ???? Do-yoon's last comment plunged the gallery into chaos again.
📰 New Post Title: Did I Hear Wrong? So you snatched the boss gear from the boss room? Not looted, snatched from hand? Actually took it and made it yours? — Reply How many times you repeating lol — (My Post) For real;;; S-grade tough one, love it ㅇㅇ — Reply God what am I hearing — Reply Boss dude seeking God — Reply Hunter or thug, why snatch healthy Greenie's weapon lmao — Reply Hunter thug both tho — Reply Oh yeah? "Is that not allowed?"
He'd grabbed it since it worked, no regrets.
Gallery reaction suggested something taboo happened.
But no skill given; had to take something.
1st floor King Slime tossed a skill; 2nd Greenie tried dying bare-mouthed.
'Gotta do what needs doing.'
To pave way to next floor.
Do-yoon decided to own it.
⭐ Top Post — (My Post) Title: Victims STFU lmao What can the graduated dude do Lost to me, cough rewards and gtfo lmao You enjoyed it too — Aged Wine is... Hoe~! Newbie dear so cool...! — Reply Tower lord saying this? — Reply Going full rogue now lmao — Reply Why so brazen — Reply Hunter or robber — Reply Hunter robber both Oh yeah? "Mmhm."
This was right.
Do-yoon rested fully, satisfied.