Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Han Sia (3)
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"Why? Forget something?"
Han Sia tilted her head slightly.
Up close, I could see the corner of her mouth curved up just a bit.
"...No, nothing."
-No.
The dawn before sunrise.
Stepping outside to breathe in the chilly morning air, Han Sia was already waiting.
Why is she here so early?
I'd come out about ten minutes early.
As I approached, Han Sia waved with an expressionless face.
"Did I keep you waiting long?"
"Yeah."
What?
It was just a casual remark, but her shocking reply hit me.
"Kidding."
As I flustered, Han Sia smirked and said.
Heroes are needed everywhere.
From the countless labyrinths, dungeons, and towers in the so-called 'Field,' to subduing rampaging demons—heroes handle it all.
Though they’re divided into those who specialize in clearing them and those who hunt demons.
Bodyguards, mercenaries, even corporations—they all need heroes.
The term "hero" might be vague, but anywhere that requires handling mana at a level incomparable to civilians is swarming with demand.
That's why heroes get so many benefits.
Orbis Academy students can use the 24/7 magic engineering 'Portal' for free, and there's even stipends to prevent living hardships.
In the lore, they were treated poorly back in the day.
Lots of regulations, apparently.
Back when they were called 'hunters' instead of heroes.
Han Sia and I took the portal, then called a taxi.
"To this address, please."
"Huh? Oh... got it."
The driver seemed flustered at first but nodded once he saw our outfits.
Anyone could tell we were total heroes.
I tweaked my plan a bit.
Instead of ditching Tyrfing, I'd acquire a 'weapon' first.
Not that I fully trusted Han Sia, and Tyrfing was a demon sword, after all.
Plus, if Tyrfing was telling the truth, I was a demon myself.
Still, there was a reason to get a weapon first.
I glanced cautiously at her side.
Han Sia stared out the window with a blank expression.
My one-trick Iaido technique wasn’t well suited for clearing gates.
I could handle weak monsters without drawing my sword, but the mid-tier strong ones were the problem.
That's why my hidden piece options were slim.
Taking a student like Yoo I-seol just to farm trash mobs could turn me into actual student fodder.
Unless it was a special gate like the Chain Cave we cleared with her.
The Wendigo boss there was sealed, so we took it down easily—but at full power, it would've been tough.
But look at Han Sia right next to me.
A top-tier active hero powerhouse.
Perfect for handling those mid-tier trash mobs.
As for bosses...
I'd handle them.
"We're here."
"Thanks."
The spot was secluded, not a soul around.
Anyone seeing us could've gotten the wrong idea big time.
"Easier than I thought."
Han Sia shook her hands clean.
It was a dungeon the size of a small cave, already out in the Field.
The mobs were 9th-grade goblins.
Truth was, it wasn't over yet.
I tapped the dungeon wall with my hand.
Somewhere around here...
Hearing the hollow thud, I kicked the wall with all my might.
Rumble—!
The wall crumbled, revealing a passage.
"Let's go in."
"Didn't know this was here."
Han Sia tilted her head.
My gaze naturally drifted to her left eye.
No wonder she found it intriguing—even I'd be curious in her shoes.
Drip... drip...
The passage was damp.
A few small puddles dotted the floor, water dripping from the ceiling.
After a while, a fairly spacious area opened up.
It resembled an altar... and yeah, it was one.
I pulled a magic stone from my subspace ring.
Any type would do, so I grabbed a random one.
Vmmm—!
The surroundings hummed as mana gathered at the altar's center.
Then space tore open, and a glowing blue gate appeared.
*Ding.*
[Entering Kasparchi's Tower.]
Opening my eyes, a white space stretched out.
Towers—the trickiest gates around.
Given a labyrinth or tower of the same difficulty, most heroes pick the labyrinth.
The tower's 'rules' are a total pain.
[Entering 1st floor.]
Towers have fixed floors.
Each one spawns a trial—you clear them all to escape.
Even as a hero, I'd hate it.
I vaguely remembered how many floors, but to heroes, it could be 100 or 1000—who knew?
Dungeons and labyrinths clear on boss kill, but towers force you to wipe every single mob.
-Kekeke!
A sinister voice echoed from afar.
Small child-sized body, twisted evil face.
Black skin, red eyes, pointed ears.
Two 7th-grade imps leered at us, mocking.
-Kekeke!
-Kickkick!
A fit adult man could punt them like soccer balls—they looked that weak.
But underestimate imps, and you'd be the soccer ball for real.
-Kickkick!
The left imp raised a finger.
Just standing there, you'd eat some nasty magic.
Kwachik—!!!
The instant it raised its finger, it burst like a tomato.
The right one, who'd just been splitting and watching, flattened too.
Glancing over, Han Sia had one hand raised.
Silent casting.
My eyes naturally drifted to her waist.
She had a fine-looking sword at her hip.
Magic swordsman, huh.
Makes me jealous.
Magic swordsmen are super rare.
Mages wield mana freely but can't reinforce their bodies with it.
Ways to overcome that: three.
First, born with 'double core' mana trait.
Second and third: become a demon or use relics.
Rumble—!
That's when it happened.
The area shook as stairs descended from the ceiling.
"Shall we head up?"
Han Sia pointed at them, still deadpan.
[Entering 2nd floor.]
Kwachik—!
"Shall we head up?"
7th-grade mobs again.
Difference: three this time.
But one silent spell from Han Sia ended them.
I rushed over, extracting magic stones from the corpses.
"Want these?"
"Nah, you take 'em."
I asked just in case, but she shook her head.
Jackpot.
Magic stones have insane utility.
Fun fact: during the old Red Gate crisis, they were used as currency.
Not that it'll happen again.
Rumble—!
Stairs dropped once more.
Before climbing, I eyed the flattened corpses.
"..."
Thoughts swirled.
Originally, I'd planned to solo a different hidden piece spot.
Another tower, but with fewer floors—each packed with elites.
My plan: kill one mob per day, camp overnight, climb next floor. Repeat for rewards.
Tough, but necessary.
"Hm? Something there?"
Han Sia paused, looking back.
"Nope!"
I hurried after her.
What if I'd come here without her?
I'd manage eventually, but just imagining it was nightmare fuel.
Miss one mob by accident? Fistfight barehanded.
[Entering 15th floor.]
-Kraaaah!!!
A 6th-grade yeti appeared.
White fur, gorilla-like build—but three times bigger.
Its right hand gripped a massive log club, baobab-tree sized.
-Kraaaah!!!
Furious, it swung wildly.
Boom! Kwang!
Despite the killer sounds, the tower interior held firm.
That's when.
"Want a turn?"
Han Sia, who'd been watching the yeti, spoke.
Had she noticed I was just spectating?
"Need a hand?"
I grinned.
Her left eye glinted faintly.
"Nah, just kidding."
-Kraaaah!!!!!!!!!!
Feeling left out of the chat, the yeti stomped toward us.
Han Sia raised her right hand.
Vmmm—!
Mana stirred around.
Thud!
The yeti's stance crumbled instantly.
-Krah...!
Thud... thud...!
Each pulse of her mana buckled it more.
Kwang!
Finally, its back hit the floor.
But incredibly, it still held on.
"Hm."
Han Sia tilted her head, then doubled the mana output.
Kwachik—.
Cracks spiderwebbed the floor—even the yeti couldn't smash it before.
-Kr... ah...!
Kwadududuk!!!
At last, yeti pancakes.
Its signature baobab club? Already a cutting board.
"...How many floors is this thing?"
Han Sia glanced at the yeti and climbed the stairs.
Stoic as ever, but I could tell she was annoyed.
We had to hit 30.
"Probably ending soon, right?"
I said it with feigned uncertainty.
"Hmmm..."
She turned.
"Can your talent tell you that too?"
"Yeah... sorta."
I shrugged, and her lips twitched up.
Happy it was almost over?
Han Sia approached slowly.
Huh?
"Hm... think I forgot to mention."
She lifted her hair with her left hand.
Her sculpted face, half-hidden before, revealed itself.
She drew closer.
So close she couldn't get any nearer, she spoke.
"I don't like liars."
Her sparkling left eye met mine.