First, Clear the 57th Floor

First things first: clear the 57th floor, where the Dark Emperor had appeared.

If I want to learn more about Hunter Management… the only way forward is to keep pioneering new floors.

Would the floors ahead match Hunter Management the same way the 57th had? There was no guarantee. If I wanted answers, I had no choice but to climb.

Alright, then.

How do I actually clear the 57th floor?

I shut off the computer and picked up a notebook and pen. From this point on, I was the only person alive who knew the strategy.

I'd compiled walkthroughs in computer files too. Those had vanished as well.

At this point, I might as well assume every scrap of information about Hunter Management is gone.

Which meant the only remaining strategy lived inside my head.

I opened the notebook and started mapping out a clear for the 57th floor. I sat there thinking for a long time. And the conclusion I reached:

Man, I could go for something sweet.

Ugh. Sitting in front of a notebook instead of a computer was way harder than I'd expected. Back when I used to write game guides, I could park myself in a chair for twenty-four hours straight.

Yeah, I'm definitely not the studying type.

Once a shut-in gamer, always a shut-in gamer.

I'd more or less sketched out the strategy overview, at least. All I had to do was dump what was already in my head.

Back when I was a noob, I got wrecked by that Dark Emperor bastard more times than I can count. Trial and error, the hard way.

That said, an immediate clear was impossible. I didn't have enough information.

1. Was the Dark Emperor truly identical to the one in the game?

I couldn't be sure. Starting with the Urgent Life Shortening Order itself, things were already subtly different from the game.

Even in the game, it was a skill that blurred the line between reality and fiction.

They called that breaking the fourth wall, right? The effect of the Urgent Life Shortening Order in the game: it actually shut the game down.

When it first dropped, the developers got absolutely roasted.

What kind of insane design choice was that? I'd cursed them out myself.

Anyway, there was no guarantee the Dark Emperor was a 100% match for the game. To confirm, I needed video footage of the 57th floor.

2. America's hunter team was extremely weak.

World number ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one, sure — but they don't even come close to the characters I raised.

I couldn't pick the roster. I couldn't control the fights, either.

Kang Minji, with her Sunbo, would be the centerpiece, of course. But that didn't change the fact that I'd have to overhaul the strategy in a major way.

I needed to talk to the Americans. First, a call to Kang Minji.

She's not picking up.

Must have been insanely busy. Fair enough.

Until I get ahold of her, I'll eat something sweet and cool my head off.

That cake from the other place kept flashing through my mind. Guess it really was that good.

I sent a message.

Ah — before that. I should leave Minji a message.

There. Done.

I threw on a jacket and headed out.

"This isn't her house?"

When I arrived at the pin, Jo Youchan had already been kidnapped. He'd been dragged outside and was standing there looking thoroughly unimpressed.

"Did Master actually call us to a cake shop? There's no way."

"We are getting cake, but calling you wasn't my idea."

Youchan shot a glare at Lee Yeonhwa.

"Come on, it's more fun with more people!"

"She's not wrong. Since you're already out, come along, Youchan."

"If Master's coming along…"

"Here. Rangi, go cheer Uncle up."

"Krrung?"

"Rangi, come here!"

This time it was a different dessert shop.

"There are so many hot spots I want us to try together!"

Fortunately, there was no wait. Whoa — they had a crazy variety of desserts.

"Master, this is so good. You have to try it!"

"A macaron? Let's see… ugh, way too sweet."

"Ah."

"Master, this black sesame macaron isn't sweet. It's good."

"Oh, this one's nice."

"Ugh, black sesame?"

She was staring at us like we were a pair of fossils. Hey, you. There's not even a ten-year gap between us. You just look young because you're in a school uniform.

"Youchan, why are you drinking that glittering monstrosity instead of an Americano?"

"It's a Double Java Chip Strawberry Parfait Frappuccino."

"A what? Cappuccino?"

Now Youchan was looking at me like I was a fossil. This kid too, seriously.

"What's even the point of drinking something as bitter as an Americano?"

"Come to think of it, you couldn't handle alcohol either, could you?"

"W-what's with those eyes? You're looking at me like I'm a little kid."

"Revenge."

"What?"

Mm. The second the sugar hit my system, the headache melted right off. Yeonhwa really knew her restaurants.

That was when a few customers from another table started drifting our way.

"Um… you're Hunter Lee Yeonhwa, right? From Take Care of My Hunter?"

"Ah! Yes, that's me!"

"Wow, I'm a fan!"

"Aww, thank you so much!"

Ohh. She'd been making the rounds on TV lately. She'd become a full-blown celebrity.

"Could we get an autograph?"

"Of course!"

"Right here, please — wait, a pen… just a second?"

"I have a pen!"

Why does a hunter carry a pen around? Don't tell me she's been waiting for this exact moment.

"Thank you! You're so cute, and Yeohwa is so cute too! Could I pet Yeohwa?"

"Ah, that would be quite dangerous."

"I figured… Then how about a paw print on paper?"

"A p-paw print?"

Yeonhwa took Yeohwa's front paw and pressed it down. A tiny, adorable little stamp. So that's why they'd asked.

Yeohwa was a smash hit too. People at the other tables who'd been hanging back, reading the room, started coming over as well.

"I'm a fan!"

"Wow, so this is a spirit~"

"You're even prettier in person!"

"Thank you, thank you!"

She was having the time of her life. She looked happy, and that was a good thing.

Still, the temperamental nature of spirits was widely known, so nobody actually tried to touch Yeohwa. They just packed in around the table taking pictures.

Surprisingly, Youchan was famous too.

"I'm a fan!"

"Mm, thanks."

Jo Youchan had been making a name for himself as a rookie for years now. He looked used to this kind of thing.

Uh, I think I'm gonna get indigestion just watching this.

I, of course, was strictly in background-NPC mode. My information was under wraps, so my face still wasn't public.

"Autograph, please!"

"Me too!"

"I'll take a paw print…"

A call came in at just the right moment. I slipped outside in a hurry.

"Ahh, I can breathe."

My chest opened right up. Let's see — it was Minji. I picked up.

"Yes, Minji?"

America had been thrown into chaos.

What the Dark Emperor was, what the Urgent Life Shortening Order meant — none of that mattered to ordinary people.

What mattered was this: one week remained until collapse. The average clear time for floors in the 50s was fourteen days. And America still had no strategy for the 57th floor.

This was the hell-floor that had wiped China out, no less. On top of that, even America's reconnaissance team had died — triggering the Dark Emperor's skill. The situation was grim.

The government had launched a rescue operation. In effect, it was an admission that the risk of collapse was extremely high.

America was a vast country, at least. It wouldn't be annihilated in a single blow the way North Korea had been. But the capital, where the Tower stood, would be razed to the ground.

Already, more than a million people from Washington and the surrounding cities were in the middle of a mass exodus.

TASH Emergency Crisis Meeting Room. Director William Gardner dropped into his chair.

"Director."

"…I've just come from a meeting with the President. I've been granted an unlimited budget and full authority."

His legs were shaking.

Budget was always a good thing. The hunter sector was a money pit. But.

Unlimited budget is a different story entirely.

It meant, in so many words: We're fucked. Handle it. It was authority, and at the same time, an enormous responsibility.

"Director, reporting. As a precaution, all hunters at floor 55 and above have been assembled, and remaining forces have been committed to the mass evacuation. However, emptying Washington and the surrounding cities within seven days is physically imposs—"

"Enough! Don't report that. I'll hear it later."

Irresponsible, in a way. But it was the best he could do.

The more the pressure piles up, the cloudier your thinking gets.

The Director had to focus on the clear and nothing else. Whether riots broke out, whether war erupted, whether the sky itself came crashing down. Clearing the 57th floor within seven days. That was his mission.

But… how? Throw Hunter Kang Minji in right now?

And if they lost Kang Minji too? Then it really would be over. What was he supposed to do?

Director Gardner's legs kept shaking.

Kang Minji was just as anxious.

She felt the weight of responsibility, of course. But more than the collapse itself, it was the 57th floor that terrified her. She ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wasn't even American, after all.

I-I'm scared to go in…

But she'd already signed the contract. Failing the clear was acceptable. Entering, however, was mandatory. That was what she'd agreed to.

If I'd known it would be like this, I would've been more careful about signing!

Uncle Hyeoncheol had told her over and over not to sign things carelessly. She should have listened! She'd had no idea it would be this bad.

A-anyone…

Anxiety came in a wave, and the faces of the people she trusted rose first in her mind. Do Hyeoncheol. Jo Paldeok. And Do Hyeonseok.

She picked up her phone to call someone — anyone. A message was already waiting.

For now?

A firm, commanding tone. There was a confidence in it that settled her shaking heart.

Does ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he have something?

She called immediately.

"H-Hyeonseok. You know the situation, right? What are you doing right now?"

"What?"

A wave of deflation hit her all at once. At a time like this, when every second counted?

He was on the other side of the planet, and this wasn't even his problem, but still… she was terrified right now!

That's so mean…

Maybe it was because she'd trusted him until a moment ago. A hurt feeling welled up. She didn't let it show, but she couldn't help the whine that crept into her voice.

"…Isn't there anything we can do? Should I just go in right now and at least get some information?"

But the answer that came back was unexpectedly firm, and her anxiety cut off at once.

"What?"

"Y-yes."

Kang Minji agreed. Without even realizing it, she had placed her judgment entirely in Hyeonseok's hands.

The situation was that uncertain, and it happened on its own. There was a confidence in his voice that left her no other choice.

Does he actually have a solution?

For now, she'd do as she was told.

"What kind of materials do you need?"

"That — they said they have some that Chinese intelligence obtained."

"Wait, Hunter Kang Minji! That's classified—"

"Yes, yes, I'll send it over? Got it. Anything else you need? Mm-hmm."

"Who are you talking to?! Stop!"

She was leaking classified intel like it was nothing! The deputy director was losing his mind.

"Wait, there's video?"

Then this could be solved pretty quick, couldn't it?

Ugh, but the evening air is chilly.

I headed back inside the shop, still on the phone as I walked toward my seat.

"What? You can't because it's a state secret?"

Come on. At a time like this, they were seriously talking about classified information? I was offering to stop a collapse.

"The first priority should be saving American lives, shouldn't it? Ah, sorry… I wasn't snapping at you, Minji."

I pulled out my chair and sat back down.

"Put me through to someone in charge. Isn't there a TASH Director or someone?"

Rangi padded over across the table and nuzzled my nose. Aww, adorable. But hyung is busy, Rangi.

I scooped Rangi up with one hand, set the cub on my thigh, and focused on the call.

"Still? Minji, just tell them who I am. Tell them I'll clear the 57th floor."

I set down my fork. Tapped it with a finger.

"Why are the people at the top always so dense? How am I going to clear it? Look, just send me the footage first, okay? We're short on time and you're lecturing me about state secrets?"

This was infuriating, honestly.

It wasn't like I could one-click a clear the moment I got the video. I'd need several rounds of testing and optimization. We were running out of time here.

"Would you believe me if I put someone else on? Who should I connect you with? The Director of Korea's Hunter Association? The Guild Master of Advance? If I had to, I could probably even get the President."

Ugh, my skull. The second my head started hurting, I craved sugar.

"Hold on a second."

I pulled the phone away from my ear.

"Youchan. Is any of that black sesame one left… huh?"

A sea of eyes was staring at me. The shop was still packed with customers.

Lee Yeonhwa and Jo Youchan had both frozen, autographs and handshakes abandoned, listening in complete silence.

"Wow… Master, that was so cool…"

"Hm?"

"Master. That call just now — it was like something out of a movie. You sounded like someone really important."

Both of them had stars in their eyes. The silence broke, and the customers erupted all at once.

"Did you just call Hunter Kang Minji? THE Kang Minji?"

"Master? Instructor? Don't tell me…"

"Are you the Special Advisor of Advance Guild? The Master of the SS-Ranks?!"

Uh. W-wait a second.

"Wow, the reclusive sage the media's been keeping under wraps…! Please give me an autograph!"

"Can I take a picture?"

"Hello. I'm Kim Jiyeon, junior reporter at Onuri Ilbo — that state secret you just mentioned, it's about America's Dark Emperor ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠crisis, isn't it! Do you actually have a solution? Just one comment, please!"

"The way you work is so cool!"

Wow. So this is what happens when your face gets so hot you can't even talk. I could feel everything I'd just eaten sitting like a rock.

"K-kids, I'm heading out first! See you tomorrow!"

"You got this, Master-!"

I tucked Rangi under my arm and hurried out of the shop.