Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Something You Shouldn't Touch Rashly
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"Hunter Kim Do-yoon."
On the day they set out to conquer the 4th floor, Do-yoon greeted his handler with a bright smile after seeing him for the first time in ages.
"Long time no see."
"Haha, thanks to you, Hunter, my workload has piled up lately... Ah! Not that I'm complaining. More work is a blessing for me."
Is there really someone who loves their job that much?
Though he found it suspicious recalling his past days on the job site, Do-yoon quickly understood since he himself was enjoying his recent dungeon raids.
"I've heard the story. Approval came straight from the higher-ups. We're all pinning our hopes on you, Hunter Kim Do-yoon."
At those words, Jo Ha-rin approached from where she'd been lightly stretching.
"You're not just packaging him up nice and neat to sell off, are you?"
"Ah..."
"Forget it. It's not your fault, Manager Choi Geon-woo. The system's the problem. It's structured so only the salaried folks take the losses."
"Ha-rin, that's deep."
"Oh, sorry."
Han Ji-hyeok lightly scolded her, leaving the troubled Choi Geon-woo in an awkward spot.
"I misspoke and caused a misunderstanding. I wasn't venting at you, sir. It's just... I've been so distracted by all the external stuff lately."
Training, ads, tower education, and all sorts of miscellaneous tasks.
Thinking of him made Jo Ha-rin feel a fresh wave of irritation.
"Let me apologize on her behalf. With the exchange event coming up soon..."
"Ugh... the exchange event."
Jeong A-hyeon grimaced the moment she heard it.
A gathering of all sorts of human trash—hunters drunk on their own superiority—
all shouting, "I'm the best in the world."
It was an event that embodied raw survival of the fittest, and the weak hunters ended up with spines shattered.
Like Han Ji-hyeok and other hunters with low progression rates.
"At least I hope Do-yoon can focus on growing without all that."
"...I always prioritize that and do my utmost."
"We all know how hard you work, sir."
With that, the team headed to the tower amid an awkward atmosphere.
"Identity confirmed."
The same soldier from before checked their IDs, including Do-yoon's.
"You've got it rough."
"Not at all, sir! Loyalty!"
Do-yoon's sympathetic words made the soldier's eyes well up as he snapped a crisp salute.
"Let's go, Do-yoon oppa!"
"Got it."
A-hyeon, who'd been watching intently from nearby, tugged firmly at Do-yoon's sleeve.
Even as they fully entered the tower, the soldier's gaze never left Do-yoon's back.
#
"Kweeeek...!!"
The monster collapsed with a dying screech.
Do-yoon snapped a photo of its carcass—a massive reptile—on his phone screen.
"...That related to your skill too?"
"Yeah."
"Makes me believe it's really a skill even if I already did."
"Trying to understand it just makes life harder."
Jo Ha-rin chimed in to help from beside Han Ji-hyeok, who wore a subtle expression.
Do-yoon attached the photo to a gallery post right away.
📰 4th Floor Monster.jpg (Photo of the dead reptile monster) - Looks something like this. Any Boss Gallery folks know what it is? 💬 Comments — Anonymous I'm Wine Lord and I've seen the tower, but first time seeing one like that. Looks like the boss changed a few times since what I knew. — Me (OP) ;;; — Anonymous Can you even send pics from inside the tower like that? — Anonymous Why not? If it sends, it sends. — Anonymous Newbies have to use that phone thing and it needs signal or whatever, right? Even if we burn mana to send... — Me (OP) Thought it wouldn't work for me too, but the status window handled it all ㅇㅇ; — Anonymous World's full of wonders. 📰 'Scalelurker'~ Short-Eared Goblin
- Mostly lives in dense forests, has scales with camouflage effects~ Watch out for ambushes~ Newbies can beat it even if caught off guard~ Otherwise, just big? Not hard to handle~ 💬 Comments — Anonymous How does Goblin know that? — Author I've got my ways~ — Anonymous Tower Lord's got memories intact to some degree? 'Oldest' and all. — Author How'd you connect those dots~? — Anonymous Uh uh — Anonymous "In the" "strongest" "lord" of the "tower" and "oldest" — Anonymous This is baiting, right? — Anonymous lololololol — Author Newbie, good luck~ And you kid, let's have a 1-on-1 chat. — Anonymous He's done lolololol — Anonymous Guessing at least a month ban. — Anonymous That's the minimum? — Anonymous Don't try to learn more... Having farmed the info, Do-yoon stood up cleanly.
"All set?"
"Yeah, bro. Thanks for waiting."
"No biggie. Gotta confirm everything solid before moving on."
Do-yoon smiled at the reliable words and pulled the Goblin Warlord's scimitar from his inventory.
The inventory system unlocked at level 5.
It was surprisingly convenient and versatile.
From the hunters' brief explanation, resources obtained in the tower could be managed through personal inventories going forward.
Nice.
This meant he could stockpile other resources neatly.
Satisfied, Do-yoon moved to find the next target.
Only Jeong A-hyeon knew the boss room's location on this floor.
She was the latest to become a hunter among them and had the most up-to-date info on the lower floors.
"I'm lucky. If the boss mob changed after A-hyeon's clear, we'd be in trouble."
Any hidden pieces found by hunters from other worlds could've reshuffled the whole floor.
"N-no, it's just up to the 5th floor that I can help... so I'll do my best...! A-and, you already figured out how to fight these monsters before I could tell you, Do-yoon oppa."
"True. Sometimes it feels kinda awkward."
"Means it's that safe. Just keep doing what you're doing, Do-yoon."
With Jo Ha-rin's final words behind them, A-hyeon resumed guiding.
"Kweeeek!!"
-Kwachik!
In the process, they hunted three more reptile monsters.
Two or more at once gave a good feel, making them easy to handle now.
"Here it is!"
"OK."
"Do-yoon, straight in?"
"Yeah."
Behind Han Ji-hyeok, who led with his massive shield, Cha Yun-ha and Jo Ha-rin checked their gear.
And so—
"Going in."
The hunter team entered the boss room.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Entering the 'Boss Room'. Defeat the boss monster, 'Tairasilis'! -Thud! Thud!!
The territory's master stirred, sensing intruders.
No need to seek it out.
The master was coming to greet its guests.
"Battle ready."
"Formation?"
"Same as always. Do-yoon on support."
"Got it."
Behind Do-yoon holding his battered shield and scimitar, Jo Ha-rin scanned the area dagger in hand.
No lesser specimens.
As if emphasizing its rule over the boss room, it stood alone in solemn vigil.
"Incoming!"
"Bro!"
-Thud! Boom!
The ground shook from massive footsteps.
All eyes turned to the boss monster.
A colossal lizard clad in blood-red scales, exuding earth dragon-like majesty.
"Grroooaaarrr!!"
With an eardrum-shattering roar, the battle began in earnest.
"I'll take it first! Do-yoon, get ready to deal right away!"
"Yes!"
Han Ji-hyeok raised his giant shield and activated his skill.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Indomitable Shield The goal: a defensive measure against that massive strike.
Soon, Han Ji-hyeok's defense skill clashed with Tairasilis's attack.
-Kwaaaang!!
Do-yoon seized the opening and moved instantly.
Facing giant monsters was familiar.
The key was not missing the gap between attacks.
-Ta-at!
Reaching the boss's side in a flash, Do-yoon swung his scimitar.
Will it work?
No need for the probing strikes from floor 3.
In this perfect damage window, he went for his strongest attack.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Acidic Digestive Fluid -Chiiiiiik...!
The flesh-melting slime seeped into the scimitar.
Thanks, King Slime.
Grateful to the boss that taught him the skill, Do-yoon swung with full force.
-Shaaaak!
"Grraaaah!"
Bubbling slime coated the afterimage slash.
Pained by its searing flesh, the boss finally spotted Do-yoon, eyes off Han Ji-hyeok.
"Do-yoon! Dodge!"
"Yes!"
No time for questions amid the enveloping shadow.
Do-yoon instinctively threw himself aside from the impact zone.
-Kwaduduk!!
The spot he'd just vacated was ruthlessly torn by giant claws.
Had he stayed, his fragile body would've been nicely pulverized.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Attempting 'Resonance'. Success! "...What?"
"Grrr... I'm hungry! Rare prey after so long! You're scrawny, but I'll savor every bite...!"
Following the rogue status window, a gravelly voice boomed.
Dizzy for a moment, Do-yoon looked up at Tairasilis.
Its slit yellow pupils stared right back.
"Hey."
"Fascinating senses. But hunger first. Eat, then think."
Do-yoon had long abandoned hopes of friendly chats with all bosses.
By his guess, this one had hit the misfortune jackpot.
"Just die."
"Grrr... Loser gets eaten...!"
In the tense moment.
Do-yoon and the team began the hunt in full.
#
📰 Newbie's Growth Potential Right Now - Mana resistance is high too, apparently. Has the basics for long activity in the tower. And through 'Resonance', gets hidden piece info or direct weakness tips from bosses. Clear speed's crazy fast too. So, at this point, Qualified to survive the main event from 5th floor theme zones? 💬 Comments — Anonymous 1st to 5th floor clear speed's impressive, sure. — Anonymous Adapting easy to 5th floor themes is a whole other issue. — Paper Enthusiast That's where you gotta properly team up with other hunters to clear. — Anonymous Earth rice bucket with trash racial specs surviving in that mix? 📰 Earth Hunters Are Way Too Weak Fr - Just seeing the occasional Earth hunter you run into tells the tale. They're a race that's been at odds with mana since birth. Other worlds are breathing mana like air from infancy lol. Starting line's different, period. I think newbie's impressive among rookies, but 5th floor+ looks bleak. 💬 Comments — Anonymous Even if it's not true, just say it is. — Author ...? — Anonymous Not wrong. Gotta be cold where it counts. — Anonymous So we just sit here scratching our asses waiting for ejection timing? Go die then lololol — Paper Enthusiast Tempers flaring too much. Cool it. — Anonymous Fighting among ourselves fixes nothing lololol it's all on the newbie. — Anonymous That aside, time to drop real bait? — Author What bait? — Anonymous Tower of the Forgotten Banquet lord. If the gallery wants newbie to live, basics at least. 📰 Theme Stages Are Outside Our Purview Paper Enthusiast
- Gallery rules, agreed by all Tower Lords. So if Wine Lord's not into it or won't agree, we can't force newbie around. 💬 Comments — Anonymous Just convince Wine Lord then. — Anonymous Us? Mere bosses? A Tower Lord? — I'm Wine Lord Convinced ㅇㅇ; — Anonymous lololololol While the gallery watched Wine Lord's mood—
A new post went up.
📰 ............ Aged Wine is...
- Everyone's attention is scary... ㅠㅠ Usually pulls aggro fine without a care, but getting spotlight for newbie feels unfair...! 💬 Comments — Anonymous Still thinking aggro shitpost even now. — Anonymous Classic Wine Lord ㅇㅇlolololol — Anonymous Peak Wine Lord~ — Anonymous So...;; really just gonna let it slide? What if he dies, you handle the fallout? — Anonymous Hey hey hey — Aged Wine is... Hoo... threatening me right now...? — Aged Wine is... Very rude, but wasn't planning to abandon newbie anyway...! I like him veeeeery much. — Short-Eared Goblin Oh my~ So passionate~ — Paper Enthusiast Then As the Tower Lords took interest—
— Aged Wine is... If newbie clears 4th floor safely and returns, I'll tell him what he's curious about...! Theme stages: tower floors shaped from someone's memories.
And naturally, that someone was
the lord residing at the top.
Floors infused with fragments of the 'True Lord's' memories.