Chapter 23
Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Proactive Youth #2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The owner of the tower's topmost floor began to move for the first time according to someone's will.
【Boss Mob Gallery】 📌 Announcement Title: Hooee...! Starting the Tower of the Forgotten Banquet Regular Meeting...! Nickname: Aged Wine is...* • Target: All bosses residing in the Tower of the Forgotten Banquet • Objective: Gather info on the 4th floor to pass on to the newbie • Important: Approach with love for the newbie >
Perhaps it was to avoid talking about the '5th floor'.
The timing was just too perfect for that.
📰 Post Title: Wine Lord! Sign here! (A black-and-white photo of a fan and paper neatly laid out) ???: As the owner of the tower, I, Wine Lord... have been completely conquered by the newbie... Boss monsters... have been proven to be eternally the hunter's doormat and tool... — Anonymous Kraaaagh!!!! — Anonymous Beat Captain to death!!! — Anonymous The world may be... ever so... cha.otic... but to bow your head... to those vile hunters~@)))!! — Anonymous What the hell is this guy on about now? — Anonymous Back with the same retard concept ;; 📰 Post Title: Um... Resident of Wine Lord's tower here, but... • The 4th floor is so low down, and it's hard to get info from hunter rumors... Wouldn't it be better to just clear it with brute force...? ⭐ Top Reply — Aged Wine is... Hooee...! I went out of my way to help personally. — Aged Wine is... And this is all the firepower I get? ㅠㅠㅠ — Anonymous 4th floor is easy-mode anyway, boss rotation is fast so info's scarce for other reasons ㅇㅇ; "I see."
In truth, Do-yoon had expected this kind of response.
No matter that they were boss monsters ruling their floors, the restrictions placed on them were incredibly harsh.
They couldn't even properly know each other's locations or situations.
Just as befitting their role as home protectors—
They were confined to their boss rooms for life.
"So even on the 4th floor, skills might not be available."
He wasn't even hoping for a Hidden Piece.
But at the very least, he wanted to acquire useful skills and gear for future battles.
"Do-yoon oppa!"
"Oh, A-hyeon."
On his way to find Han Ji-hyeok in the stamina training room, his eyes met Jeong A-hyeon's as she strolled down the hallway.
Beneath her beige coat, a soft knit top caught his eye.
More precisely, the massive presence bouncing toward him as she ran grabbed his attention.
'Am I pent up or something?'
Do-yoon quietly scolded himself, washed away the stray thought, and greeted A-hyeon.
"Where are you headed?!"
"To ask Ji-hyeok hyung something."
At those words, A-hyeon shrewdly(?) deduced his purpose.
What a newbie hunter would ask a senior was a given.
"Ahem, as Do-yoon oppa's direct senior, it's time for me to step up!"
A-hyeon struck a confident pose with a beaming expression.
"Ah, it's about gear."
"Got it."
What couldn't be left out when talking hunters? Gear.
But up to now, Do-yoon's gear consisted of nothing but the Goblin Warlord's scimitar and flimsy beginner defenses that could break any moment.
"From what I studied, the higher you climb, the fewer restrictions on usable gear..."
"Exactly! Spot on. But Do-yoon oppa's case is a bit special."
Special?
Do-yoon naturally tilted his head.
"Inside the tower, you can only use gear provided by the tower, right?"
"Yeah."
Mana.
Gear inside the tower was infused with mana.
That created a vast gap between modern equipment and tower gear.
To block attacks from mana-infused monsters, you needed tower gear.
"To equip gear fitting for you and pursue proper growth, you need to enter the 5th floor theme stage."
"So the 5th floor is the real start."
"Yes! As you've seen, we haven't worn any special gear until now because our permissions aren't unlocked on lower floors!"
Another reason like that.
Come to think of it, A-hyeon and the other hunters' gear was surprisingly basic, even compared to his.
"I thought you were deliberately matching my level."
"Hehe, that's partly true. But we literally can't equip them here."
"So we need to climb floors to unlock our real gear."
"Of course! I can't wait to show you my gear, Do-yoon oppa...!"
A-hyeon spoke with excitement at the thought of showing off.
Not the Ether Suit layered for minimal defense, but full gear tailored to skills and class.
A-hyeon had beautiful priestess gear.
'H-He'll definitely like it.'
Just like how she felt back in her newbie days seeing Uncle Ji-hyeok and Ha-rin unnie.
She'd been so envious and awestruck she could barely sleep.
"Once you enter the 5th floor and start raiding properly, permissions unlock automatically! You'll get gear suited to you too!"
A-hyeon secretly imagined Do-yoon's future look.
His body etched with sleek muscles would suit any gear.
Light armor, or even heavy infantry plate.
'Do-yoon oppa would rock anything.'
Especially paired with her priestess traits—they'd be perfectly efficient.
"Hmm... When do we resume tower raiding?"
A-hyeon subtly probed Do-yoon's thoughts.
Everything so far focused on his growth, so his condition was paramount.
No matter his freakish potential and pace, he needed time to recover mental fatigue—
"Uh... Tomorrow?"
"....?"
"The sooner we raid, the better. No need to wait on our end."
A-hyeon quietly peered into Do-yoon's eyes.
Deep, tranquil black irises.
The subtle chaotic aura within made her unable to help but suspect.
'Does he not know?'
The tower's mana drives challengers mad.
It seeps into the mind, shaking one's very identity and foundation.
"For real? You're really totally fine?"
"Ah... Yeah. I'm seriously okay?"
Sudden silence descended.
Do-yoon panicked at A-hyeon staring intently at him.
'Did I say something wrong?'
"Oppa."
"...Yeah?"
"You know too much tower mana exposure makes you go insane, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then you know what it means to keep pushing to enter the tower?"
"Ah."
"I didn't think you were that far gone. You're fighting too well for that. And also..."
It wasn't suspicion. Just worry.
This world could crumble a shining talent in one mistaken moment.
"If Do-yoon oppa says you're really fine, I won't stop you. We trust you—no, we have to."
"...."
"You're really, truly okay, right?"
He started with top-tier mana affinity.
Like he was designed to dive into the tower, and even gained the ability to talk directly to boss monsters inside.
Any normal hunter—or newbie by her common sense—would've died or gone mad ages ago.
It's Do-yoon, so he's special.
That abstract faith could shatter anytime.
And one slip could doom the whole party.
She knew that all too well, whether she wanted to or not.
"I'm fine. I just had a mental checkup recently, and it was all clear."
But Do-yoon was astonishingly fine.
If he had nightmares every night, he wouldn't be so confidently pushing for raids.
His mind clear daily, body optimal.
With Boss Mob Gallery—irreplaceable allies—watching his back.
She knew what to worry about; he knew needless hesitation was poison.
Hesitate, and you die.
He'd learned that in the hell of that day.
"Plus, you've got Korea's top healer, A-hyeon."
"....!"
A-hyeon's ears flushed red at the blunt praise from Do-yoon's lips.
"Th-That's...!"
"If it's a real crisis, I'll rely on you then. Like I said, I want to push the 4th floor as fast as possible."
5th floor theme stage.
He was dying to know what lurked there and what it offered.
'Gear for me too.'
The Goblin Warlord's scimitar was solid, but to be a proper hunter, he needed more EXP and gear.
Misreading the eerie hunger in Do-yoon's eyes, A-hyeon fidgeted with her fingers and hastily excused herself.
And the next day.
Thanks to Do-yoon's strong push, the hunter team plunged straight into the 4th floor.