Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Daily Life
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“We only serve the great World Tree. Offering prayers to any other being is….”
Of course not.
I clicked my tongue in disappointment.
But the elder’s words weren’t finished yet.
“But expressing gratitude and respect to the benefactor who saved the World Tree is only proper.”
The elder pondered for a moment, then spoke as if he’d made up his mind.
“How about this? Being worshipped alongside it as the apostle of the World Tree.”
“Apostle?”
“Yes. When we pray to the World Tree, we’ll honor you as well.”
[The Sandworm evaluates that you used your wits well.]
Did that mean I’d share in some of their faith in the World Tree?
Not a bad deal at all.
“Sounds good. Looking forward to it.”
I nodded in satisfaction.
I’d secured a long-term investment.
Now it was really time to go.
“Then I’ll be off.”
“Already?”
“Yeah. Still got things to do.”
I glanced around.
“Where’s Chohogi?”
“You mean that spirit? Over there.”
The elder smiled and pointed to one side of the forest.
Dozens of elf children were gathered.
And at the center stood Chohogi, looking proud as could be.
It had somehow become the leader of the kids.
The elf children surrounded it, seeming to have a great time.
“Haah….”
I let out a deep sigh and walked over.
“Hey, time to go home.”
At my words, disappointment spread across Chohogi’s face and the children’s.
“Already?”
“Just a bit longer….”
The kids clung to my robe and Chohogi.
I pried them off one by one and said firmly.
“No. I’m busy.”
I hoisted Chohogi up and plopped it on my shoulder.
It turned back, waving sadly at the kids.
I gave the elder a final farewell.
“Then I’m really going.”
“Yes. Please visit again.”
“Come back soon!”
With the elder and elves seeing me off, I surrendered to the familiar sensation of exiting the space.
***
I got home and immediately flopped onto the bed.
The soft mattress caught me.
The tension from the tower melted away all at once.
I stared blankly at the ceiling, replaying recent events.
This climb had been especially rewarding.
More precisely, the haul from the 15th floor via the re-entry ticket outweighed the 36th itself.
I sat up and rummaged through my pockets.
First thing I grabbed was the mysterious note from the empty wooden house where the magic-shaving youth had lived.
I held it up in front of me.
A blank white sheet of paper. Nothing written on it.
“What are you, anyway.”
I decided to probe its secrets again.
Last time in the forest, I lacked tools, but now I could try new methods.
I headed to the kitchen.
Fire came to mind first.
Doesn’t secret ink always involve singeing with flame?
I lit the gas stove low and cautiously held the paper’s edge to the flame.
I brought it just close enough.
The paper curled slightly from the heat.
I held my breath, watching for changes.
But no hidden text appeared, no matter how long I waited.
Instead, the edge started to scorch.
“Shit, it’s burning.”
I yanked it away in a panic.
Seeing the black mark, cold sweat beaded on my forehead.
Nearly ruined a valuable item.
Not this method.
“Then next….”
I grabbed a pencil from the drawer.
Laid the paper flat on the floor, covered it with thin paper.
Rubbed the pencil lightly over it.
In case pressure had indented hidden writing.
Scritch scritch.
Only the sound of pencil lead on paper.
No change, as expected.
Lemon juice or special liquids risked damaging it.
I pondered.
This wasn’t something I could solve with my knowledge.
Messing with the unknown might ruin it forever.
“Better leave it to an expert.”
One face came to mind.
Eun Mirae, nickname Refrigerator.
Working at a government lab, she’d be used to analyzing mystery items.
“Yeah, next time I’m in Seoul, I’ll drop by with it.”
Decision made, I folded the paper neatly and tucked it deep in the drawer.
No rush anyway.
Next up: the faith the elves had piled on me.
The mini flag I’d left stuck by the World Tree came to mind.
“Harvest it next time.”
Problem was not knowing when that’d be.
No re-entry ticket meant no return to 15th floor.
“No, wait. People from higher floors have seen them….”
I recalled a gallery post.
It was a dark elf, but an elf’s an elf.
Purified elves could appear on other floors too.
As Refrigerator said, my actions already rippled through the whole tower.
“Hold the line till then.”
I decided to take it easy.
Faith didn’t vanish, after all.
One last thing to check.
The new power from drinking the World Tree’s dew.
I held out my palm.
Swish.
Golden sand bloomed on it.
A totally different texture and aura from before.
Sand infused with divinity.
“First, test this power properly.”
***
Next day.
Tower cooldown over, I headed straight to floor 37.
[Entering Tower Floor 37 (EXTREME).]
Familiar alert, shifting scenery.
The stench of rotting corpses stung my nose.
“Ugh….”
Bad vibe.
Then faint combat noise from afar.
Clashing blades, shouts.
I headed that way.
Soon, a gruesome scene unfolded.
Small plain below a hill.
Kingdom soldiers fought desperately there.
But their foes weren’t alive.
[Groooar….]
Orcs with rotting flesh, exposed bones.
Semitransparent specters floating among them.
Soldiers were pushed back helplessly.
Swords passed harmlessly through specters; decayed orcs lunged relentlessly.
“Don’t fall back! Hold the line!”
Familiar voice.
Sharon, at the front, urging soldiers while firing her bow.
But her arrows did nothing to the specters.
Hopeless situation.
I muttered a curse under my breath at the sight.
“Necromancer nearby or something?”
Reminded me of the orc warlord reviving as black smoke.
Not a one-time thing, apparently.
Anyway, I was fully prepared.
No reason to watch longer.
“Argh!”
A soldier grabbed by a specter screamed as if his soul was drained, collapsing.
I stepped forward before the screaming soldiers.
Raised my left index finger.
Golden light bloomed at the tip.
“Everyone, get clear.”
At my entrance, Sharon and soldiers’ eyes went wide.
“W-Wise One!”
No time to reply.
I flicked my finger at the nearest specter.
Glowing golden sand grain shot like a bullet.
Whoosh-!
It struck the specter’s faint form dead center.
[Kieeeek-!]
The specter shrieked in agony.
Instantly gone.
Not even ash left.
“……!”
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
I didn’t stop.
Extended my right hand toward a rotten orc zombie charging me.
Boom-!
Massive sand blade sliced their bodies clean in half.
No need for holy power on them.
“Next.”
I recovered the fallen golden grains to my fingertip.
Amount too small to not retrieve each one, but the power was real.
Flicked again.
Another specter shrieked and vanished.
I repeated mechanically.
Holy sand for specters.
Regular sand for undead.
Awkward recovery at first, but soon smooth.
Before long, the undead horde filling the plain was annihilated.
Sharon approached, face full of awe.
“Wise One, this time too….”
Before she finished.
Familiar system message appeared.
[Congratulations on clearing Floor 37 EXTREME.]
[First clear bonus applied!]
[Rank 1 bonus applied!]
“Huh?”
Familiar light wrapped my body.
Leaving Sharon and soldiers’ confused faces, I was ejected from the tower instantly.
“Wait, didn’t even get the faith points yet….”
I clicked my tongue in regret.
Well, next floor I’d get this one too.
***
Home, quick wash, open gallery.
Browsing eats time; soon it’s 3 AM.
[Title: Hunter bastard committing a crime………]
[Content: (photo of glossy food dripping)]
“Committed the ‘crime’ of eating at this hour…. What do I do?]
Clicking showed red-glowing food pics galore.
Varied too.
Chicken galbi, pork cutlet, tteokbokki, jokbal, ramen, budae jjigae….
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly.
“Looks delicious….”
Normally I’d just drop a fist emote and done.
But today felt off.
Stomach growled.
My body barely felt hunger anymore.
Yet an empty gut discomfort hit, with unstoppable appetite.
“Big trouble.”
I frowned without thinking.
Irritated.
Shaken this hard by one photo.
“No good. Let’s eat something tasty today.”
Thinking about it, I lived too frugally.
Earned uncountable money, spent on nothing but internet.
Other A-rank hunters drove fancy cars, traveled abroad.
I was too plain.
All because I never spent.
“Yeah, time to enjoy life.”
Spend money, eat well.
Post proofs on gallery.
Get all the attention.
“Buffet… yeah, buffet.”
Not just any.
Korea’s priciest, flashiest hotel buffet.
Daejeon had none, obviously.
Had to go Seoul.
Travel time? No issue. Magic made it quick.
Resolved to do it first thing tomorrow morning.
***
Next day evening.
I stood in a fancy Seoul hotel lobby.
Meant for breakfast buffet, but crashed at 3 AM, slept through morning; now dinner.
Glam chandeliers, marble floors.
People’s outfits screamed class.
I strode confidently to the buffet entrance.
But the greeting staff looked unwelcoming.
“Where’s your guardian?”
“Came alone.”
“Sorry, but unaccompanied minors can’t enter.”
Expected that.
Kid alone in a place like this.
I’d prepped all scenarios.
“One sec.”
Politely excused myself to staff, went to a corner.
Summoned Chohogi, who’d stared at phone in my bag the whole trip.
“Work time.”
It swelled instantly at my gesture.
Average adult male height.
But not enough.
Can’t stroll with a sand man.
“Mirage.”
Rainbow-grade skill.
Pre-found internet pic of average 40s guy.
Overlaid perfectly on Chohogi.
Sand doll became mild-smiling middle-aged man.
“Perfect.”
Nodded satisfied.
Grabbed “dad’s” hand, back to entrance.
“Found my dad.”
“…?”
Staff tilted head but let us pass.
“I’ll guide you in.”
Mission success.
Grinning inwardly, dragged Chohogi inside.
Endless glorious foods.
But awe short-lived; new problem.
“……!!!”
Chohogi sparkled like a kid, looking around.
Lost in first-time wonders.
Suddenly shook off my hand, bolted to nearest chocolate fountain.
“Hey, what are you doing!”
Panicked, chased it.
Chohogi dipped finger in flowing chocolate, tasted.
Eyes on us.
“Sorry! The, uh, dad’s a bit childish….”
Apologized frantically, pulled it back.
But antics continued.
At sushi, ignored rice, snatched sashimi.
People eyed us weirdly.
Security called.
Big guy approached, polite but firm.
“Sir, any problem?”
“…….”
“Sir?”
Chohogi couldn’t answer.
Just stood blankly; staff grew suspicious.
Needed excuse.
“… My dad can’t speak, actually.”
“Huh? S-Sorry, didn’t know….”
Made saddest face to staff.
He looked apologetic.
Yeah, if I’d ragged on someone blind and they were, I’d feel bad too.
Seized moment, dragged Chohogi to table.
“Just sit quiet. I’ll bring food.”
Sat it, warned sternly.
But it just eyed surroundings curiously, get or no.
Ended up watching it non-stop while fetching food.
“Screw it, just get the proof pic….”
Gourmet dining abandoned.
Picked pretty-looking dishes.
Gallery post done, goal met.
Finally ate roughly, to cashier.
Boldly, for silent dad.
“One kid.”
“… And father?”
“Ah… one adult, one kid!”
“….”
Staff looked down.
“Sir, your age? Kids’ rate only to 12.”
“Uh…. Exactly 12.”
“Hmm, looks middle school to me.”
Absurd.
Usually treated as elementary.
Middle school only for billing?
“I’m elementary, for real?”
Whined kid-like.
Stamped foot, threw fit.
If no go, squeeze tears.
Staff bought the act, sighed, tapped POS.
“… Fine. Kids’ rate.”
Out of hotel, deep sigh.
“Haa….”
Got the pic, but ordeal.
No eating buddy this sad?
Shrunk Chohogi, bagged it, muttered.
“Next time, go with Broker Uncle.”
Seemed best for mental health.
Uncle wouldn’t finger-dip chocolate fountain, at least.