Chapter 4

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 4

Chapter Title: Record Breaker

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『Please... open the door...』

A strange voice echoed inside my head with a droning hum.

It made my temples throb. Like someone was tapping on the inside of my skull.

Blackie must have sensed the oddity in that voice too. The octopus let out a "prrr" and slumped its head, sticking to the floor.

'That tone... feels familiar somehow.'

Forcing myself to dig through my memories brought up the status window. The phrasing in the skill descriptions had definitely been like this.

'So... is there some connection between the Tutorial Tower and my status window?'

It made sense. After all, the emergence of Awakeners coincided with the appearance of Towers all over the world.

The real question was why my status window was different from what other Awakeners had described.

I thought maybe the voice in my head would explain it, but it fell silent again.

"Guess I should head into the Tower first?"

"Prruu..."

I hoisted the somehow terrified Blackie onto my shoulder and stepped into the entrance.

Thankfully, nothing happened until I was fully inside the Tutorial Tower.

The walls were just lined with stone bricks stretching out long, so all I had to do was walk.

"They said the Tutorial Tower isn't that dangerous. At worst, just goblins and a Goblin Lord as the boss, right?"

Soon, the interior of the Tutorial Tower came into view. It looked like an old, rundown building.

The bricks were cracked from age, with moss growing in the fissures. The floor was pooled with filthy water up to my ankles.

Other than that unnatural silence—where even my breathing sounded loud—nothing seemed off.

'No goblins charging right as I enter. Guess that's their way of going easy on newbies.'

That made the Tower's structure pretty much identical to a game.

The status window you see in games, the newbie-friendly layout, the clear time records upon completion—it all fit.

'Is this world just one big game?' I thought, scanning my surroundings tensely.

"Blackie, anything weird?"

"Prruuu..."

Blackie shook its head quickly, as if nothing was amiss.

'No sudden ambushes, right?'

I pressed forward anyway. To set a record later, I'd need to map the place out.

Plus, I wanted to see a monster up close, and I was curious about Blackie's combat prowess.

"Huh...?"

Splash, splash.

Pushing through water now up to my calves, a green glint flashed between the ripples.

At first I thought it was moss, but up close, it was a thick, viscous liquid that didn't mix with the water.

"The water's warm..."

I stopped instinctively and slowly lifted my gaze toward where the green liquid was flowing in.

"Goblin!"

There was a goblin sprawled on the floor, not moving an inch.

Shifting my eyes quickly, I locked gazes with another. Vacant, unfocused eyes. Instinct told me immediately.

"They're... all dead?"

"Prru?"

I glanced at Blackie, but it looked clueless. So was there someone else in the Tutorial Tower besides me?

I'd never heard of that happening...

Splash, splash.

Straining my ears, I heard nothing but the water sloshing.

'No one's here, right?'

Blackie was just sitting calmly on my shoulder, so it hadn't sensed anything either.

No choice. I started walking again.

Further ahead, a massive door loomed into view.

"Wh-what...?"

It was easily twenty times my size, with a huge padlock on the handle.

I had a hunch about this door.

According to interviews with Awakeners who'd cleared the Tutorial Tower, this led to the boss room.

Unlock the padlock, and you enter.

'Couldn't catch a single goblin since they're all dead. Hope that doesn't matter. But how do I unlock this?'

I tapped the chain on the door with my fingertip, then peered into the keyhole.

Maybe I need to kill a goblin for the key? I was pondering that when a blue light suddenly surged up.

"My eyes—!"

A padlock flashing like that?! The sudden brightness brought tears to my eyes. I rubbed them frantically with the back of my hand.

Once it settled a bit, I blinked through the blurry vision at the padlock.

"Prruuuu?"

Click.

The padlock sprang open limply and clattered to the floor. I nudged it with my toe—no anomalies.

"Wh-what? I can just go in?"

I'd made it to the boss room door, but something felt off about entering.

Never fought once—can I even take on the boss? What if no goblins means some error pops up?

I hesitated, then turned to Blackie.

"Hey, Blackie. Wanna scout ahead?"

"Prr! Prr prr!"

Blackie shot two tentacles up and huffed angrily. Probably saying not to use it as bait.

Sigh. Fine, I'm the owner—I can't throw Blackie under the bus.

I gripped the massive door handle and took deep breaths until I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠steeled myself.

"Blackie. If we get attacked, you're guarding me, got it?"

"Prru!"

No backing out now. Woo Jin-seong would've charged in without a second thought.

So could I. With Blackie's confirmation, I flung the huge door open.

"Nngh... hnnng...!"

Blackie and I pushed the doors apart, revealing a vast inner chamber.

Unlike the interviews, no boss—just a massive throne in the center.

"What's that?"

As I stepped in to inspect the crumbling throne, a system window popped up unannounced.

Totally out of nowhere.

'Cleared the Tutorial Tower? All I did was walk here.'

Monsters? Goblins? Boss...?

I hadn't fought once. Was this a bug? I hit the 'Details' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠button below.

What the hell is this?

Nothing made sense.

Goblins were dead when I arrived, never saw the boss, yet kill counts were up.

Blackie couldn't have done it secretly—it was glued to my shoulder.

The first three make sense, but what's with bearing and maternal love?

"Is this seriously a bug...?"

Do I wait here? Until it's fixed?

I scanned around puzzled, but nothing but the throne.

"What now?"

Standing there dumbfounded, another system window appeared.

As I stared silently, a cheerful "Ta-da~!" fanfare blared right in front of me.

I flinched, shoulders hunching, then gaped in disbelief.

"What is all this?!"

Honestly, it was getting scary now.

The Tutorial Tower was nothing like I'd heard. Goblins dead before battle.

Clear record bizarre, anomalies everywhere.

I'm no pushover (in spirit), but too many ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠weird things? Best to bail.

I scooped up Blackie tight and bolted for the Tower exit behind the throne.

Unfamiliar body meant...

"Eek!"

Splat. I tripped, but no one saw, so no embarrassment...

......

......

......

At that moment, system windows appeared before Awakeners worldwide.

The first change since Woo Jin-seong, the sole national powerhouse Hunter, claimed the top spot. That alone piqued every Awakener's interest.

The same held true in the strategy room for the Tower 16th-floor raid party, led by Woo Jin-seong.

"Huh...?"

Jane Ah Raina, the American Hunter mid-strategy session for the 16th floor, shot up from her seat at the notice.

Her gaze flicked to the corner. She smirked at the black-haired man there.

"Hey, Jin-seong. See that?"

Woo Jin-seong, staring at his phone, looked up at her call.

"What?"

"Your record got smashed. Time to vacate that national powerhouse spot?"

Woo Jin-seong shrugged.

"Then I just step down."

"Tch, no fun. Your record breaks—shouldn't you feel threatened? Or prep to kick the ladder?"

"Not interested."

Ignoring her grumbling, he returned to his phone.

Jane puffed her cheeks, then shoved her head between him and the screen.

"Whatcha doing?"

"Wondering what could be so riveting you'd ignore your record breaking."

She peeked at his screen, then pulled back, tilting her head.

"Awakener Aspirant Gallery? You into that?"

"Just stumbled on something funny."

"Funny how?"

Woo Jin-seong sighed deeply, answering reluctantly.

"...Some guy with 'Woo Jin-seong's Successor' nick was posting amusing stories. Got curious who he is."

Jane tapped her lower lip with her finger, narrowing her eyes.

"Kill-worthy?"

"Nah."

"Then?"

Woo Jin-seong closed his eyes briefly.

"If he's really that entertaining... I might recruit him."