Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Tower Lord's Ordeal #3
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9th Floor, Demilitarized Zone.
The tower had prepared this rest area especially for the hunters who had fought nonstop from the 1st floor all the way to the 8th.
Someone muttered.
"So what the hell are we supposed to do here? We already finished all our maintenance outside the tower anyway."
Stroking his scruffy bearded face, he blankly looked around.
"What else? For hunters like us with no backing, this place is where the real golden opportunities lie."
"What opportunity...?"
"Connections, you idiot. Connections."
Hearing that, the hunter glanced around.
Not just him—hunters from all sorts of worlds were bustling about, actively networking.
Unlike him, who was just standing there picking his nose, they were showing massive interest in each other and striking up conversations.
"Hey, you're that hunter who shone on the 6th floor, right?"
"Oh, word's gotten around already?"
"No. That's not him. The eyebrows are different."
"..."
They were still just a ragtag bunch who couldn't even recognize each other's faces properly.
But they all knew the celebrities.
For instance—
"Look, over there."
"What...? Whoa."
A woman with black hair, pale skin, and a massive axe slung over her shoulder strode down the street.
"..."
Like waves parting, the crowded masses split to either side in an instant.
"They said a big shot entered the tower with this batch of newbies, and it was her."
"Black hair, huge axe—definitely Remy... Mir or something?"
"It's Rakia Bells."
"Ah, yeah! I almost had it."
One hunter played it cool to hide his ignorance.
Of course, oblivious to it all, every hunter on the street had their eyes glued solely to that one woman.
"Her mana presence is as insane as the rumors say."
"Better not even think about approaching her. Unless you wanna die."
Rakia Bells accepted it all with pride and leisurely continued on her way.
Her position had been shaken time and again by Do-yoon's presence.
But originally, this kind of reaction was only natural in her world.
'Do-yoon.'
Her eyes darted around like a chick searching for its mother.
"Whoa, did she just look at me? No way, is she gonna invite me to her party...?"
"That's delusion. Fix it if you wanna live long."
"No, she looked right at me! Our eyes met just now!"
"This guy's got it bad too."
Excited reactions bubbled up here and there.
Watching them, the scruffy hunter scratched his nose bridge and looked dumbfounded.
"Do they really need to grovel like that? She can't even affect our own worlds anyway."
"Where're you from?"
"Beastman Union."
"Figures you'd think that."
"What's that supposed to mean? You picking a fight?"
"Misunderstanding."
Of course, it wasn't a misunderstanding.
Clear contempt gleamed in the hunter's eyes as he eyed the scruffy one.
With nothing better to do, the hunter decided to teach this ignorant beast a lesson about civilization.
"Sometimes, you gotta seize the moment right here to secure your future."
"What're you talking about?"
"This is your one and only shot to catch that hunter's eye."
Everyone was on similar levels now, so there was a chance to open a conversation.
But once they climbed to the mid-floors and became untouchable...
"She'd be like a flower on a cliff then. Completely out of reach."
"Is that how it works?"
"Pretty much your only opportunity. To talk to her, I mean."
Only then did the scruffy hunter nod in understanding.
'So ignorant.'
Savoring his intellectual superiority, the hunter swallowed a secret sneer.
"I can stand on my own anyway."
"Respect."
'Idiot.'
The hunter gave the scruffy one a polite(?) assessment.
The tower's ecosystem, once purely merit-based, had long been corrupted.
High-rank hunters had already carved out their own networks, monopolizing parts of the tower among themselves.
Even if it went against the will of the tower's creator.
'What's wrong with breaking laws in hell?'
The tower was hell.
Which was why ethics and morality got tossed aside, leaving only their desires to dance freely.
'Gotta make some kind of connection.'
The hunter facing the scruffy dimwit was confident.
He'd gathered every item that could catch the black-haired barbarian warrior's eye, per veteran advice.
Wooden accessories mimicking a black dragon's form.
Or precious elixirs that boosted strength.
'Gonna go now.'
Starting with that woman, he too would make a name for himself in this tower...
"Do-yoon."
The hunter's idealistic dreams halted as his gaze shifted to Rakia Bells, who had stopped in her tracks.
"Uh, hi."
A hunter approached Rakia Bells' side as if it were the most natural thing.
A completely ordinary-looking guy casually greeted Rakia Bells without a hint of tension.
"Oh, you're here."
"What? Why's Rakia Bells...?"
"Wait, there was that rumor about someone clearing most of the 5th-floor theme stage single-handedly."
"That was just a rumor, right? To tarnish Rakia Bells' rep..."
"Who'd spread that kinda rumor unless they had a death wish? Sounds more believable as truth."
"So the rumor about him soloing most of the theme stage is real?"
"That can't be..."
Numerous hunters watching the scene began murmuring among themselves.
Oblivious to it all—
Do-yoon, ignoring his surroundings, naturally ended up walking alongside Rakia Bells.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Whoa."
It was right around when Do-yoon arrived on the 9th floor.
A place where presumed hunters bustled through the streets, civilizations mingled in chaotic harmony.
'This is it.'
"Whoa...! So many toys...!"
"Hey now."
Before he could even share his own impressions of the new vibe, Do-yoon cautioned Eira for her reckless excitement.
[Just one pic when you get there. Curious.] -Click!
He first snapped a clear photo to fulfill the Boss Mob Gallery users' simple request.
Next up.
'Union Guild.'
From prior intel, it was a famous networking hub formed by hunters themselves.
Tower secrets, strategies, even handy tips.
Its potential varied wildly depending on how you used it.
They even traded or sold decent gear there.
'Sounds perfect.'
Preparation for the next floor was always better if more thorough.
As he moved to head there with those expectations—
"D-Do-yoon."
A trembling voice made him turn, revealing the face of the hunter he'd just parted from.
"Uh, hi?"
"...Lucky... No, what a coincidence."
"We meet again."
"Totally, totally a coincidence."
Rakia Bells.
The hunter, still radiating her healthy allure, walked right up to Do-yoon.
"What brings you here?"
"Well, gotta pass through here to hit the 10th anyway."
"Ah, r-right."
Like she'd buttoned her first conversation wrong, Rakia Bells floundered at the jab.
"I-I mean, you know this place draws all kinds of hunters. So you gotta set your direction right..."
"I'm just here to browse info and gear."
Do-yoon instantly decoded her garbled words and stated his goal.
Hearing that, Rakia Bells' eyes sparkled like it'd worked out perfectly.
"Lucky break. I had the same thing in mind."
"Liar! That's a lie!"
Do-yoon roughly soothed Eira's indignant voice inside him and eyed Rakia Bells' confident expression.
"Cool. Guess we go together then."
"Don't worry, Do-yoon. I know this area like the back of my hand..."
As Rakia Bells touted her reliability again, Do-yoon turned at a strange sense of unease.
One, two.
Every time he scanned around, his eyes met those of hunters staring their way.
Their gazes held so many emotions that Do-yoon felt inwardly flustered.
'What the.'
He'd never received this much attention in his life and felt real pressure.
"...Something wrong?"
"No, doesn't it feel like people have been staring at us from all over since earlier?"
"Hmph, idolizing the strong is natural. Bask in it, Do-yoon. Puff out your chest."
"Bask in what."
"Their envious stares. Even the jealousy."
'What kinda weird sentiment is that.'
He still didn't get why they were staring.
But rethinking it slowly, reasons started popping up one by one.
Everyone here was a challenger climbing the tower.
In their eyes, powerhouses like Rakia Bells or himself wouldn't look too kindly upon.
"How'd the rumors spread?"
"Plenty of ways. The tower's info-sharing networks are overflowing already."
It was a feature born from the tower gates always being open.
Sure, plenty died challenging floors, but just as many passed trials and returned to their worlds.
"Chaotic."
"No need to overthink. Just enjoy it."
"You seem awfully used to this?"
"Heh."
Rakia Bells strutted ahead with smug entitlement, as if such attention was her due.
The two headed for the guild—the yolk of the info trade.
The wildcard? Hunters' curiosity went beyond mere stares.
"Don't worry, Do-yoon. I'll handle it..."
"Hey, you're the one from that theme stage who..."
Rakia Bells, approaching with full confidence, got neatly ignored.
Their interest was elsewhere from the start.
"Do-yoon, I've heard all about you. If you're okay with it, how about partying up...?"
"Wait, we don't even know each other?"
"That's what we'll fix from here on. So... what do you say?"
What the hell with these guys.
Do-yoon panicked hard at the encirclement(?) forming from hunters slinking in from everywhere.