Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Misguided Aspiration
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Do-yoon stared blankly at the two blood-red chains split in half.
"Ahh..."
He turned his head toward the lingering voice, and there was Hanaoka Miyu gazing at him, her cheeks flushed red.
"Beautiful. As expected... my eyes didn't deceive me."
"...?"
"A body so favored by the Tower. This meeting... it's an honor for me as well."
The Tower's favor.
The shrine maiden's gaze shifted to the two chains swaying pleasantly, as if expressing delight.
"Delicious...!"
Eira's cheerful voice echoed only in Do-yoon's mind.
If it benefited Eira, it benefited him too.
In conclusion, the situation was flowing in a not-so-bad direction.
"Uh... thank you."
Do-yoon offered his thanks sincerely.
Even if her mind seemed a bit off, she had clearly given him a reward that helped.
"Fufu... hahaha. I didn't expect this level of response, but I'm quite satisfied."
Hanaoka Miyu brushed her sweat-dampened bangs aside and smiled contentedly.
He could actually feel the mana that had been dormant inside him activating.
His bond with the main body from that theme stage he'd encountered had drawn one step closer.
'This is.'
If he could fully draw out Eira's power, it would undoubtedly be a huge help in conquering the Tower later on.
Do-yoon looked at Hanaoka Miyu with pleasant thoughts.
"Why go this far for me?"
"Because my expectations for you are high."
A man not yet mature, but even at this growth stage, possessing mesmerizing potential.
Hanaoka Miyu made that judgment while looking at Do-yoon, who had only just reached level 9.
This man had to be pulled to their side, no matter what.
"And."
Suddenly, the scent of cherry blossoms wafted sharply.
Hanaoka Miyu's presence, missed even by his dynamic vision, appeared right in front of Do-yoon in an instant.
"I have many stories to share with you... and with the one residing within you. Ideally... I'd invite you to my homeland."
"That's..."
"But that's impossible, isn't it? Ahh...! What a lamentable situation..."
They held nationalities from different countries.
Truly Romeo and Juliet.
Each nation was desperate to secure their own Hunters—
And on top of that, burdened with the mission to spread true light across the world.
"..."
Do-yoon thought as he looked at her.
'Would the boss mobs even like this?'
Those existing in the Tower.
Beings forced to lose their reason and fight, half-compelled by entities even they didn't know about.
Gate Breaks were one thing, but suddenly, he pitied the boss mobs who were forcibly ejected.
"Oppa, sad?"
The two chains, swaying pleasantly, whipped around to look at Do-yoon.
Sad?
No visible reaction, but Do-yoon found himself sympathizing with them unconsciously.
"Do-yoon-ssi?"
The shrine maiden looked at him curiously as his actions paused briefly.
Do-yoon met her gaze in return.
"Gallery."
"...Pardon?"
"Do you know about the Gallery?"
"Gal...lery? Like some kind of art museum?"
Not acting.
She genuinely seemed clueless.
Besides, from her position preaching devotion to the Tower.
She couldn't pretend not to know what Do-yoon mentioned.
'She really doesn't know.'
Which meant the uniqueness of the skill he possessed.
Was still limited to him alone.
"...It's nothing."
Do-yoon brushed it off vaguely and decided to leave the room.
However.
"..."
Her gaze dripped with such palpable regret that he couldn't help but stop.
"If I stay here too long, it'll raise suspicions elsewhere."
"Our time together being this short... the world is so cruel."
'How long has it even been since we met?'
Do-yoon looked at Hanaoka Miyu with a bewildered expression.
No hint of jest; she seemed utterly sincere.
"There'll be other chances."
"True. Will you meet me again?"
"...If I have the time."
"Fufu, the exchange meeting isn't over yet. And."
"...?"
"Do-yoon-ssi, you'll come find me again soon, I think."
What ominous nonsense was that?
When he shot her a questioning look, Hanaoka Miyu giggled softly and replied with a knowing gaze.
"I've felt confusion like yours before. Fortunately, I had a benefactor nearby, so I adapted quickly. And this time... it's my turn to be someone's benefactor."
"..."
Crazy bitch, just plain crazy.
Preaching that causing Gate Breaks was their group's aspiration—what good was a 'benefactor' in that?
Clearly, her way of thinking was worlds apart from his.
'Impossible here.'
Their combat prowess was incomparable.
To deal with her, he'd need other help.
Like the residents of his skill who shared his perspective.
"Then... I'll be going."
"Take care."
With a wave from the swaying hand of Hanaoka Miyu, Do-yoon finally left the room.
He hurried back to his lodging and immediately logged into the Gallery.
📰 My Post Title: Emergency Super Urgent - Just had a meeting with the shrine maiden But she was spouting cult-like nonsense about worshipping the Tower and all that What the hell are these guys? — Anonymous Teacher, humans' situation... even if you ask us, we won't know... — My Post No. She said something about causing Gate Breaks to normalize Earth? ⭐ Top Comment — Paper Enthusiast ....?? — Anonymous I'm not seeing it wrong, right? Gate Break? Our Ejection? — Anonymous Fuck, reformers? — Short-Eared Goblin Hmm... The Gallery's reaction was explosive.
In a different sense altogether.
📰 Boss Mob Gallery Title: Tell us in more detail Nickname: Paper Enthusiast - That shrine maiden or whatever said she wants to push us all out of the Tower? ...Ah Ah fuck, it's those guys — My Post Know anything? ⭐ Top Comment — Paper Enthusiast There are seasons when tower zealot bastards rant — Anonymous The wording is oddly specific... — Short-Eared Goblin Some in Boss Gallery have been ejected because of them~ We've been keeping an eye on those bastards~ — My Post So some of the Gate Breaks on Earth so far were really caused by them? — Short-Eared Goblin Probability seems high~ — Aged Wine is... Hoe~! We must punish those bad Ejection theorists...! But.
The important thing was—
Being trapped in the Tower, they couldn't take any immediate action.
— Paper Enthusiast Have you told any outside contacts about this? — My Post Just heard it, haven't told anyone yet You guys are the victims, so I came to you first lol; — Anonymous Ha... trouble brewing again — Aged Wine is... Don't covet him...! Newbie is the Tower's own...! Do-yoon relayed everything he'd experienced to the Gallery as best he could.
Gate Breaks—in other words, Ejections—
Were an absolutely deplorable fate that even the boss mobs had to prevent.
📰 My Post Title: So what's the exact mechanism of Ejection? - Been too busy conquering the Tower to ask properly But meeting one tower zealot shrine maiden makes it urgent all of a sudden; — Anonymous Is it time to explain... — Anonymous The lore sealed by armband control is starting to unfold... — My Post ?? ⭐ Top Comment — Paper Enthusiast Normal humans like newbie wouldn't have it, naturally Newbie, you probably don't have Raid Points — My Post Raid Points? — Anonymous When that fills up, you're ejected from the Tower lol; — My Post What's the threshold? At least the shrine maiden and her group seemed to know how to trigger Gate Breaks.
— Aged Wine is... Simple...! Failing to clear floors over and over raises the Tower's stress level, and unqualified boss mobs get 'ejected' out...! — Anonymous Thinking about it again pisses me off lol — Anonymous Hunters, do your damn jobs properly!!! — Anonymous We don't wanna get ejected either lol 📰 My Post Title: So - Those guys I just met manipulate matches on purpose to fail floors and stuff? ⭐ Top Comment — Paper Enthusiast That'd be the easiest method — Anonymous No wonder the Hunters I fight are always so weak;; — Anonymous That's teacher holding back... — Anonymous Controlled and restrained, how do you hold back;; — Anonymous I wanna just get free-killed for real "What a mess."
That was Do-yoon's impression of those tower zealots.
📰 Boss Mob Gallery Title: Lower and bottom floors clear actively anyway Nickname: Paper Enthusiast - No worries about Ejection or whatever Real issue starts from mid to upper floors Earth's Hunter progress where newbie is, for example, Floor clears get harder, Gate Break probability skyrockets — My Post Even if I know now, nothing I can do — Short-Eared Goblin Not true~ If newbie diligently conquers the Tower, that alone normalizes our Raid Points~ — My Post I'm only level 9 now...? — Aged Wine is... Hoe~! Other Tower Lords and armbands, don't eye the still-growing newbie...! — Anonymous No monopolizing — Anonymous Lol too much aging turns to poison lol — Anonymous That's why grape juice seat is better-(Banned account.) 📰 Boss Mob Gallery Title: Anyway, best to sort this out first - For newbie and us We don't know how deep the shrine maiden faction's roots go Unless we induce action via Tower conquest, newbie striking first is super dangerous — Anonymous Agreed — Anonymous Hunters are sneaky as fuck — Anonymous And among them, even sneakier tower zealot group? Oh shit — Anonymous Earth jerks gonna work or what?; Could he do it?
No, he had to.
He had to somehow prevent Gate Breaks from erupting where he lived.
'Gotta speed up the Tower conquest.'
Feeling the familiar pulsing presence of Eira within him, Do-yoon steeled his resolve once more.
'Other Hunters...'
As Paper Enthusiast said, since he didn't know their full roster yet.
For now, he decided not to tell his fellow Hunters and handle it internally within the Gallery.