Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Tower Lord's Trial
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-Saaaaah...
The mana-depleted Niederroot crumbled into ashes.
Its massive bulk caused the surrounding area to become shrouded in a faint, glowing mana haze.
"Whoa."
"So pretty..."
With only murmurs of awe remaining, they gazed at the spectacle, lost in its afterglow for quite some time.
In truth, part of it was that they lacked even the strength to move right away.
'Wasted too much stamina chasing that Hidden Piece.'
They'd kept the conversation light to avoid burdening each other, but the accumulated fatigue couldn't be ignored.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Hidden Piece conditions have been unlocked. Rewards acquired. ▶ A large amount of EXP ▶ Small Mana Stone x1 ▶ Wristguard of the Twisted Tree Spirit "...Huh?"
The moment he checked the reward list, a piece of equipment dropped from the air in a burst of light.
A dark-colored wristguard, perfectly sized for Do-yoon's body.
It looked ordinary on the outside, but its true value lay in the mana infused within.
Wristguard of the Twisted Tree Spirit A wristguard made from part of the Twisted Tree Spirit, Niederroot. When equipped, grants increased mana recovery speed and movement speed to the user. "Oh."
At those words, Do-yoon reflexively slipped on the wristguard.
His left wrist was reserved for Aira's chains, so he equipped it on his right wrist, which held the Goblin Warlord's scimitar.
No sooner had he felt the perfect fit than—
-Fwoosh...!
A unfamiliar mana swept through Do-yoon's body for the first time.
A refreshing energy, like strolling pleasantly through a forest.
His steps felt lighter as if by magic, and his vision sharpened even further.
"Insane."
Was this the power of equipment bestowed by the Tower?
Do-yoon shook off the deep fatigue that had weighed him down.
"Feel good?"
"Yeah, totally."
Do-yoon answered Aira's question with obvious delight.
"Heehee."
Aira smiled happily too—even if it was for her, as long as Do-yoon liked it, that was enough.
With this, he could tackle the upcoming battles much more efficiently.
Do-yoon's emotions swelled with anticipation.
✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ Lv ? → Lv ? Due to Hidden Piece, additional rewards acquired. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ▶ Progenitor's Trial Admission Ticket x1 "That's more like it."
And then, the moment he'd been waiting for—the Hidden Piece reward.
"...Huh?"
Do-yoon's face went blank as he checked the contents.
-Plop.
A sinister dark purple paper ticket landed in his open palm.
Something that seemed like a consumable had descended as the Hidden Piece reward.
"Is it good?"
He muttered as he snapped a photo of the ticket via the system and posted it.
📰 Boss Mob Gallery (My Post) Title: Newbie just cleared the 8th floor — What I Wrote (Dark purple ticket photo) - Got this as Hidden Piece reward. Good stuff? ㅋ? — Anonymous Hidden Piece? Did you graduate or what? — What I Wrote Yeah — Anonymous Shit shit shit shit shit — Anonymous Why can't I graduate...? Why can't I graduate...? Why can't I graduate...? — Anonymous You weak, unlucky scrubs can just get ejected lololol "No."
The gallery erupted again at the additional graduation news.
This would bury his question.
Sensing the crisis, Do-yoon immediately requested help from the moderators.
📰 Boss Mob Gallery (Request) Title: Help! Help!! — What I Wrote Boss gallery users aren't listening to me at all Save the graduation bait for later—can we look at something urgent first? Sorry if that sounded rude... — Paper Enthusiast* Nah, don't worry. The users here freak out for a day or two anyway. — Aged Wine is... Any boss-touchers messing with Newbie-kun are bad bosses...! — Short-Eared Goblin* Hmm~ I sense thick mana from the photo~ You've stirred up something fun again, huh. — What I Wrote Is it dangerous? — Short-Eared Goblin* Nope, not that kind of dangerous vibe~ "Oh."
Do-yoon perked up.
— Paper Enthusiast* Oh, that's that thing. Training admission ticket, right? I remember seeing some hunters use it occasionally. — What I Wrote Yeah yeah, that's it. Says Progenitor's Trial Admission Ticket. — Paper Enthusiast* Then what I know is probably right. — What I Wrote So what's it exactly do? — Paper Enthusiast* Exactly what it says—warps you to a training room for trials. Warp.
That familiar word stirred memories of before.
Someone's backdoor method had informed him of the unusual events happening to him.
And he'd even gotten some training out of it.
'Who the hell is it.'
— Paper Enthusiast* (Private) Didn't you experience something similar before? — What I Wrote ??? How'd you know? — Paper Enthusiast* That one was such a wild variable even the Tower Lords acknowledged it publicly, and we coordinated internally too. — Aged Wine is... Hmph. Before the sacred trials of the Tower Lords, we won't stand for their shady little schemes...! Amazing.
The Tower Lords could do stuff like that among themselves?
'Tower Lords.'
The true owners of the gallery, the hosts who confined the boss mobs to the Tower.
What on earth were they thinking?
Allowing beings of Tower Lord stature to interfere with a mere hunter like him.
What was their intent?
— Paper Enthusiast* Anyway, don't hoard it—use it up quick. No second chances inside the Tower. — What I Wrote Scary af; — Aged Wine is... Sad but true...! He'd gathered enough info on the Hidden Piece reward.
Now, all that was left was to exit this boss room.
Moving to non-combat zone. "Oh."
As he responded to the teleport prompt, Do-yoon's vision blurred.
When he came to, he saw—
"Do, Do-yoon...!"
Rakiya Bells, looking just as exhausted as he felt.
"You're up?"
"Y-yeah, somehow cleared it."
Niederroot had said it.
That he'd been able to offer Do-yoon the key to the Hidden Piece—his memory—
Because of Rakiya Bells' exploits in another dimension.
"What happened?"
"Huh?"
"Anything like achievements in the boss room?"
"H-how do you...?"
"I've got my ways. Heard it secondhand."
Rakiya Bells still didn't fully grasp Do-yoon's abilities.
If she learned he chatted with boss mobs like friends, she'd see him as something beyond monstrous.
"Ah, uh, ah..."
However.
What mattered to Rakiya Bells wasn't Do-yoon's powers.
The things she'd done in the boss room.
The tender emotions she'd felt came flooding back, filling her with unbearable shame.
"What."
"N-no, I didn't feel anything weird or bizarre like that. I didn't, I...!"
Her ears red to the tips, Rakiya Bells shouted excuses, her face on the verge of tears.
Stunned by her odd reaction, Do-yoon stared back.
"Wasn't it something good?"
"G-good...!"
This guy.
How much more embarrassment did he plan to inflict?
'What happened in there.'
Why was she so out of it?
But the important thing was she'd cleared the boss room alive.
Was there some secret more vital than that?
"Anyway, you cleared it. You're back alive."
"Th-that's true, but..."
Rakiya Bells couldn't argue, hanging her head.
Sorting out her tangled emotions would take time.
She could never admit awakening feelings for someone.
Not even on her deathbed.
Stealing glances at Do-yoon, Rakiya Bells noticed the new equipment.
"That...?"
"Got it this time. Looks good, right."
"I sense mana. Good kind too..."
The mana carried a strong natural scent, like where Rakiya Bells was born and raised.
Satisfied with her reaction, Do-yoon asked about plans.
"I'm heading back to Earth now. What about you?"
"M-me too, rest up first..."
"Smart. Better than pushing up recklessly."
Rakiya Bells glanced back too.
Maybe influenced by someone.
A sudden thought struck her, and she asked Do-yoon.
"Next raid... when will you come again?"
"Gotta check the situation back home first. If no schedule, probably within a week."
"...Got it."
"Why?"
"N-no, nothing."
Though puzzled by her awkward deflection, Do-yoon felt good thinking of heading back soon.
Exit the Tower? "Yeah."
After bidding farewell to Rakiya Bells.
Do-yoon returned straight to Earth.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Do-yoon-ssi!"
As he exited the Tower, a familiar voice called out.
Turning at the presence, he saw a tall man in a suit.
"Handler."
"You were amazing...!"
Returning alive meant conquering the Tower.
Handler Choi Geon-woo was genuinely thrilled at Do-yoon's return.
"Association's waiting."
"Seeing a hunter who's survived a near-death ordeal first is one of my joys."
"...Really?"
"Head to the Association first. Rest at the dorms after..."
Dorms.
That word's deep resonance made Do-yoon's body relax already.
'Wonder how the other seniors are.'
He wanted to see Korea's hunters and catch up.
Do-yoon returned to the Association with a light heart.