Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Entering the 10th Floor
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"Bro. That bastard really bounced, didn't he?"
"Still, nothing weird about it. Who climbs the tower in their right mind anyway?"
"Tch, yeah, you're right."
The delinquent hunters, still riding high on their rising rep.
Ridley at the center swaggered around, scanning his surroundings.
"...Ugh."
A passing hunter met his gaze and quickly averted their eyes with a shady look.
Ridley loved reactions like that.
'That bastard.'
He had no clue Do-yoon was tangled up in something seriously off (?).
No, he was just burning with rivalry, obsessing over crushing him solo.
"Hey."
"Y-Yeah?"
Ridley called out to the hunters lounging beside him.
"Don't even think about messing with him first if you spot him. We'll definitely cross paths on the 15th floor."
"B-But bro, what if he drops out before that..."
"You punk."
Ridley scowled at the hunter daring to talk back.
"Did I say not to make me look like an idiot, or did I not? You think a guy with that kind of power's gonna flop on some basic stage? He's guaranteed to hit the 15th."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. So keep your asses alive. Don't go dying like idiots somewhere stupid."
"...Got it."
All the stages before the 15th.
Nothing different from what they'd cleared so far, but definitely not stages you could sleep on.
Not about whether you could or couldn't handle it.
It was about approaching the tower climb with reverence and focus.
Let your guard down, and you're dead.
Even empty-headed punks like them knew that much.
"So."
Ridley stroked his gear—his massive greatsword—and flashed a sleazy grin.
"Don't do jack until he drags himself up to the 15th."
"Got it."
With that, Ridley eyed the gear Do-yoon had been wearing.
The bracers oozing strange mana, and...
'That sword.'
The blade radiating an ominous sharpness.
Clearly enchanted with mana too.
'No owner? Then it's mine soon enough.'
That's why he wanted it. Wanted to snatch it.
Because in the tower, the strong owned everything—that was the truth, the law.
Ridley nursed those thoughts, eagerly awaiting his rematch with the newbie.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"...Where'd you go?"
Rakiya Bells asked abruptly as Do-yoon returned.
"Nothing happened."
"...?"
"Had some business."
"...Did you maybe make friends with other hunters too?"
"Something like that."
It was more massive than your average hunter, but no need to complicate the chat.
"I-I see. Makes sense, really. A hunter of your caliber wouldn't just be solo..."
Ignoring her mumbling, Do-yoon scanned the 9th floor.
"Fewer hunters than yesterday?"
"The ones done prepping have already headed up."
"Figured. Still, some'll climb back up from below, right?"
"Sure, but no real reason to stick around the 9th long-term."
Rakiya Bells stared straight at Do-yoon's face.
"Why?"
"In the end, they were all here just to see you."
"...Nah."
"No joke. In the tower, rubbing shoulders with a powerhouse is an opportunity money can't buy."
Even scraps of info would do.
The gap in sensing their power grew massive the wider the skill divide.
"Guess you gotta own it. Do-yoon, you're a big deal in here."
"Don't put that pressure on me."
"You should be proud. Not just anyone gets there."
"That's exactly the pressure I'm talking about."
Just climb the tower.
Grab rewards on the way, fix his crappy life, stop gate breaks.
'Too complacent.'
Lately, the black shadow's harsh lessons were hitting home hard.
'I'm dying here! Ease up...!'
'Reality's worse. Tough it out.'
'Damn it, I'm gonna die!'
"..."
Remembering that brutal trial, Do-yoon shuddered.
"What's wrong?"
"Bad memory."
"I see."
"Anyway, time for us to head up too."
Rakiya Bells nodded.
"Scout the boss room, clear the stairs. Goals unchanged."
"Yeah."
"Right now?"
Do-yoon nodded immediately.
Maintenance done plenty in the trial.
Body in peak condition, key info gathered.
The snag?
'Boss room location's still unknown.'
Couldn't gather enough on the 10th through 14th.
Only solid intel was on the 15th.
"Ahem."
Catching Do-yoon's glance, Rakiya Bells cleared her throat and spoke up.
"I-If it's okay... party up again this time?"
"Huh?"
Do-yoon finally reassessed Rakiya Bells' value.
9th floor meetup was chance, but this could flip to opportunity anytime.
"Yeah. There you are."
"...?"
"Let's talk."
"T-Talk?"
She gulped hard.
The weight in "talk" sent chills down her spine.
"How far'd you scout?"
"Oh."
At the topic shift, Rakiya deflated a bit as she answered.
"I've dug up a ton on my own too."
"Nice."
"Last time I was distracted by you, but after, I went around gathering next-floor intel."
"You share that kinda stuff?"
"My status makes it possible."
Rakiya had solid backing.
Tower assault connections, even upper council ties.
A rock-solid patron and info line.
"You're full-on nobility, huh?"
Do-yoon's loaded comment drew a proud stance from her, hands on hips.
"Hmph, I'm a strong hunter."
"Whoa."
Her ego was unreal.
Feeling good from the reaction, she snorted and stepped off.
"...She's ugly."
"Hey now."
Warning Aira at his whisper, Do-yoon followed Rakiya meekly.
"Here."
-Whoooong...
In front of the mana portal shedding pale light.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 「Would you like to move to the 10th floor?」 ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 「Warning! From here on, even more powerful monsters will appear!」 "First time seeing messages like this?"
"Think of every staircase as prep for the theme stage. Makes it easier."
"Huh."
Come to think of it, past staircases vaguely echoed the 5th floor vibe.
Dark, gloomy forest.
Like a nightmare chunk ripped straight from Aira's wanderings.
Probably the same feel dragging through the 10th.
"And."
Before stepping into the portal, Rakiya turned to Do-yoon.
"Never feel pity."
"What? For other hunters?"
He'd never had that to begin with.
Gallery teachings drilled that in.
"No."
But she shook her head.
"Something else."
On staircases, non-hunters meant one thing.
Monsters.
She was telling a hunter like her: no pity for monsters.
"Gotcha."
Didn't get it, but he etched it in his mind and stepped forward.
-Fwoosh!
Skin tingling like direct portal contact.
Vision brightening instantly—he squeezed his eyes shut.
Felt just like first entering the tower.
Not a great sensation.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 「You have entered the 10th floor.」 -Step.
Do-yoon cracked his eyes open.
Blurry vision sharpened, senses firing up.
"...This is."
Past stages: pure untouched nature.
This one: civilization's ruins dotted around.
Way too late for revival, though.
"Weed hell."
Half-collapsed buildings, human bones littering the ground.
Long dead, bleached white, mingling with dust.
"That pity talk earlier—was this it?"
Do-yoon turned back.
"...?"
Nothing there.
"She's gone!"
Only Aira reacted, cluing him in.
"Spawned elsewhere, huh."
Can't expect every hunter same spot every time—bad luck this round.
Staring at the stage, one thought hit:
'Awakened Aira's next stop?'
5th floor, he saved her—but canon? She'd slaughter zealots and bounce.
This zone felt likely.
True ancestor's painful memory chunk.
"Hm."
Do-yoon shook off the heavy mood.
Smooth motions, same as before.
Even with beefier mana, no mental fog.
"This thing's pointless now."
Might as well hunt down Rakiya first.
Theme stage or not, bounded area—findable.
-Boom!
Like answering his plan, a massive impact echoed from afar.
"Found my guide."
Shortest path, full speed.
Do-yoon bolted toward the source.