Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Something Bizarre
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"All set?"
"Yes!"
Do-yoon responded confidently to the casual question as he stretched lightly.
They were in the final preparation phase right before entering the tower, following the association's guidance.
His eyes met those of a soldier watching him tensely from afar.
'Tough job.'
Do-yoon knew that position and mindset all too well.
"Oppa!"
"Yeah."
A-hyeon, who had finished preparing first, came over to help Do-yoon with various things.
"Do you know what mainly appears on the third floor?"
"Yeah, I heard roughly from the Supporter skill."
"Ah...! But since I have some real combat experience, let me explain it properly one more time!"
A-hyeon's eager assistance.
Do-yoon gladly accepted her support.
Points to watch out for on the third floor, monsters' weaknesses, and even the boss room's location.
Precious information you couldn't buy anywhere leaked out freely.
"...So, it's best to actively use Unnie's magic or ranged attacks whenever possible!"
"Got it."
"Each one has different traits, so instead of charging in blindly, figure out their nature and attack accordingly each time."
"Thanks."
Do-yoon nodded, sensing something odd.
"...?"
He turned his head and locked eyes with the hunters staring their way.
"Got something to say?"
"...No."
"When did you two get so chummy?"
A-hyeon froze at Cha Yun-ha's frank remark.
"Ah... We talked a lot at the cafe last time."
"Talked? Hmm..."
At Yun-ha's suspicious reaction, A-hyeon flushed and stood up abruptly.
Her earlobes were bright red—she was clearly flustered.
"I-I think I've covered everything. Anyone else have anything to add?!"
"You've already said everything we could."
"R-Really...?"
She really had covered it all.
Any missed details could be handled in the floor's safe zone, so the hunter party decided to enter the tower.
"Check stats right after entering, and adjust as needed."
"Yes."
"Oppa, you leveled up twice last time! I'm so curious...!"
Jo Ha-rin replied lightly, while Jeong A-hyeon gazed at Do-yoon with eyes full of anticipation.
He'd already checked in the training room, but Do-yoon nodded without betraying her expectations.
"Entering."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Entering the Tower of the Forgotten Banquet! Welcomed by the familiar status window, the five South Korean hunters entered the third floor.
#
-Whoosh...!
They moved from the first floor to the third in an instant.
As he opened his eyes to unfamiliar air, a landscape not much different from the second floor greeted Do-yoon.
From what he'd devoured in the gallery, each floor's environment was heavily influenced by the monsters dominating it.
📰 Boss Mob Gallery Title: Seems like no 3rd floor owner in Boss Gal, so spoiling ahead lol 💬 Comments — Paper Enthusiast* From my memory, Wine Lord's tower 3rd floor is mainly bug mobs. They might not even be here since they lack intelligence to begin with. Anyway, for newbies fighting up close, it could be dangerous. They're the ones who hit hard in close range. Pay more attention to surroundings in battle and make good use of your teammates. Should be a smooth clear then. — Anonymous Wait, wasn't the gal entry condition having intelligence? — Paper Enthusiast* I dunno. — Anonymous ??? — Paper Enthusiast* Just a hunch. — Anonymous How is this guy so confident... Oh, he's the tower lord. — Anonymous What realization mid-sentence lol — Anonymous But the newbie talked fine with the mindless Slime King last time. — Anonymous Oh yeah. — Short-Eared Goblin* Maybe the newbie's gal access ability works separately~ — Anonymous What — Anonymous Are you saying we're inferior to the DS now? — Short-Eared Goblin* I never said that? — Anonymous Lower floor scrub freaking out 'cause it hit a nerve. Upvote if boss lol Do-yoon pulled his eyes from the gallery and shifted to his status window.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: 18 💨 Agility: 9 ✨ Magic Power: 14 💪 Stamina: 17 The numbers had clearly risen compared to last time.
'This should let me use skills without issue.'
From experience, as the Great Slime, he could use Acidic Digestive Fluid (D) up to twice max in combat.
Stamina drained by mana recovered quickly with a short rest, but it was still a factor that couldn't be ignored mid-battle.
"Anything off?"
Han Ji-hyeok approached and asked.
"No, feeling great. Stats same as last time."
"Then..."
At his subtly expectant look, Do-yoon responded right away.
-Shing...
The curved blade emerged from its sheath.
An S-grade scimitar procured directly from the Goblin Warlord.
'Feels good already.'
Maybe because it was a "gift" from a gallery member, but it felt like he'd already beaten an unseen enemy.
"Definitely looks high quality."
"It's S-grade. Even I've only seen one or two in my life."
"Chinese and American hunters, right?"
"Yeah."
"A Japanese hunter just got S-grade gear too!"
"Everyone's flying high."
Han Ji-hyeok gave a wry smile as he eyed the weapon in Do-yoon's hand.
No matter that it came from a low floor, it was an S-rank weapon.
It probably wouldn't pale compared to gear from mid-floors or higher.
'Nice.'
Genuinely pleased at Do-yoon's growth potential as its wielder, Han Ji-hyeok gave him a final once-over.
"Dive in right away?"
"Sounds good, hyung."
Do-yoon replied without hesitation.
"Let's go then."
With Jo Ha-rin's response, the hunters' full assault began.
The goal remained the same.
Focus on Do-yoon's growth, supporting him maximally.
-Kisssht!
A monster with a somewhat grotesque form appeared in the distance.
"Eww..."
Jeong A-hyeon recognized it and shuddered in disgust.
For them with clearing over 20 floors of experience, it wasn't much, but...
Its appearance stirred primal human revulsion.
Glistening carapace, multiple legs, writhing antennae.
"Whoa."
Even Do-yoon instinctively recoiled at his first third-floor mob.
'Ugly Green.'
Seeing that repulsive form instantly brought the Ugly Green Guy to mind.
They'd at least exchanged warm words back then—this thing was just nasty.
Seriously wondering if the tower floors were ordered by "grossness," Do-yoon assumed position.
"Incoming!"
"Watch attacks, Do-yoon first!"
"Yes!"
For fresh experience points.
Do-yoon's tearful swordplay began.
"Kishisssht!"
A sharp foreleg swung.
One hit could sever a limb, but Do-yoon didn't stop.
'Slower than the Warlord.'
As a mob, its speed was clearly slower than the Goblin Warlord.
Do-yoon dashed close, dodged the attack, and swung the scimitar immediately.
-Slash!
With a smooth sound, one of the insect's legs severed instantly.
"Whoa...!"
The carapace looked tough.
This feat was solely thanks to the Goblin Warlord's scimitar.
"Kishishisht!"
Balance lost without the leg, the insect toppled to the ground.
-Thud!
Do-yoon calmly targeted its softest spot.
One strike to the writhing belly.
-Crunch!
Green ichor sprayed, confirming his guess amid fierce resistance.
But once the weakness was pierced, the monster's fate was sealed.
-Plop.
After a few more hits, the lifeless monster slumped.
"...Not even surprised anymore."
"Really?"
"Normally people flip out or backflip."
Jo Ha-rin pointed at the slumped corpse.
"As you see, the visuals are a bit..."
Jeong A-hyeon and Cha Yun-ha had already backed away far.
"For reference, A-hyeon was bawling her eyes out..."
"Ahh!! Why bring, that, up again...!"
But A-hyeon smacked his back in horror at Han Ji-hyeok's teasing.
Suppressing laughter at the skit, Do-yoon looked up at the sky.
'Hope you're doing well up there?'
Ugly Green.
Your teachings work here too.
Never imagined learning from a boss mob, but now Do-yoon was one with the gallery.
"Grab a few more, head to boss room once you're used to it."
"...For faster leveling?"
"Exactly. No point lingering on a floor that's too easy."
Outsiders went mad the longer they stayed here.
Reminded of that reality, Do-yoon and the hunters pressed on.
A lush green zone overgrown with grass.
Not much different from floors one and two, but an alien sensation washed over them.
-Crunch!
"Kieeek!"
After dispatching another spider-like monster, Do-yoon checked his condition.
'No need for skills yet.'
They affected timing but packed reliable power.
Even without relying on them.
Do-yoon freely hunted the floor's monsters.
'It works.'
First time on this floor, first time facing these monsters.
But he could handle them naturally because—
📰 Boss Mob Gallery Title: Newbie lost his cool [Wriggling tentacles gif] — Anonymous [Goblin licking tongue gif] — Anonymous Honestly, who's hotter? Objective opinions pls — Anonymous Whoa this is gross — Anonymous Match of the century;; — Anonymous Why drag out dead Ugly Green's pic lol — Anonymous This guy's still crawling back post-graduation lol "..."
The gallery crew's steadfast aid was constantly tempering his mental fortitude and Mana Resistance (C).
Near the boss room, a faintly glowing zone.
"Entering now."
As Do-yoon moved toward the portal—
"Hold up."
Han Ji-hyeok blocked him with a grim face.
"Why..."
Turning toward his gaze, he faced it.
A bizarre physique impossible for a human.
A tall figure in a mask, long limbs, staring at Do-yoon and the hunters.
-Chill.
Do-yoon felt an intangible pressure.
'What is that.'
A suffocating, alien sensation unlike any murderous monster.
"It's a hunter."
"Ah."
Han Ji-hyeok spoke in a tense tone.
The other hunters' faces hardened too.
Numerically superior, yet no one could relax.
Jo Ha-rin and the others had sensed it too.
Someone who shouldn't be here had descended.
-Creak.
The thing tilted its head appraisingly, then spoke.
"Hunters... of Earth?"
"...!"
Not fluent, but clearly speaking Korean.
A raspy, displeasing pitch.
The mask made its attitude inscrutable, so nearby hunters gripped their weapons tighter.
"Who are you."
"Hunter. From mid-upper... floors."
Mid-upper floors.
A hunter from another world with higher progress.
And here, that meant a rival.
Han Ji-hyeok and the hunters' expressions darkened further.
"Why call us?"
"Wanted to ask. You're too strong for this place. I know. You're babysitting that kid."
"..."
"Simple then. We have a kid too. Need to enter floor 5, but short on numbers."
"So?"
The masked one's head turned precisely to Do-yoon.
"If you're heading to 5, my business is done. Hurry up and go."
"Then why here..."
"Waiting to see who, when. Getting impatient."
The masked hunter turned and walked away casually, as if truly done.
Quite anticlimactic after the spine-tingling encounter.
"...What was that?"
"Seems he dropped by for floor 5."
"Floor 5 is..."
"Theme stage. From there, cooperate with other hunters of similar levels to clear."
"We can only interfere up to 4."
Jo Ha-rin chimed in.
From floor 5, only similar-level hunters cooperate to clear.
A completely different system from what Do-yoon had experienced.
"Then..."
"Don't worry. You've done great so far—no issue on 5."
"Oppa."
A hand grabbed his sleeve; Do-yoon turned.
Jeong A-hyeon looked worried.
"You okay?"
"Ah."
Do-yoon finally looked at his hand.
It was trembling.
He'd unconsciously imagined clashing with that hunter.
'I'd lose for sure.'
He knew without experiencing it.
The overwhelming presence was that absolute.
"...Lucky he just left."
"Even otherworldly hunters have some judgment. Probably here to recruit for the 5th floor theme."
"Let's handle the boss room first."
"Yes."
Do-yoon steeled himself, focusing on the immediate issue.
The third floor boss.
The true floor clear began.