The Shape of Paradise (2)

"Be honest. You want to kill them all, don't you? Back then, a single swing of your blade would have ended it. What is all this bullshit now? Once you enter the Tower, you can become anything. You just have to choose. After that, I’ll grant you sweet, sweet time."

My heart hammered at the word [Tower]. A chill ran down my spine, and I couldn't think of anything else. My entire mind was being filled with thoughts of battle. The heating blood. The boiling spirit. The thin line between life and death. That is what makes you. That is who you are. Look at the traces of slaughter carved into your soul. Do you really think you can live a normal life? You will come to us eventually. Just as you didn't leave on your own accord.

Under the gaze of those giant eyes, I gasped and woke from my sleep.

"Haaah!"

I was drenched in cold sweat, clutching my sword tightly. 'When did I draw this?' My heart was pounding violently. Eunseo should have been sleeping in her room. I tucked the sword back into my subspace and ran a hand through my hair.

"Dreaming of nonsense. What a load of crap."

Perhaps retirement was a more absurd plan than I had thought for someone like me.

[Sluggish Tower Conquest, The Era of the Post-Solo-Walking Demon King.]

I was reading the article when I let go of the mouse. "Ah, boring."

"Hyunseo, if you're bored, should we solve some workbooks?"

At Eunseo’s words, I hurriedly closed the laptop. "Huh? Ah, no. I-it’s not boring at all. It’s just so fascinating to see what people are up to these days~"

My eyes darted around. Eunseo smiled at my expression. "You were searching for the Solo-Walking Demon King again, weren't you?"

"..."

How did she know? Did she see my screen? No, I didn't feel her gaze on me.

"Do you like that person that much? It seems like you search for them at least once a day."

"No..." How on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠earth does she know what I search for? That person is something else. I bit my lip and said, "There’s a lot of talk about the Solo-Walking Demon King running off overseas with an EX-class item, so I was just curious."

"Ah, right. I’ve heard those rumors lately."

At Eunseo’s words, Park Hyungtae, who was sitting on the sofa playing a game, shrugged. As he rolled up his sleeves and set down his game controller, a flashy dragon tattoo was revealed on his forearm.

"Isn't it true? I’m 100 percent sure he took it and ran to the States. You can’t even liquidate that stuff in Korea anyway. If it were me, I would’ve bolted to the States too."

At Park Hyungtae’s words, Cha Ildo, who was sitting in the corner of the sofa, clicked his tongue.

"That Solo-Walking Demon King guy isn't the type to do that. Hey, if he was going to take it to the States, he would’ve flown out a long time ago~"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah~ Why would he run now? When the Tower of Earth was cleared, that was when the U.S. wanted EX-class items the most. He would’ve sold it then and retired; why would he risk his life climbing the Tower of Heaven?"

"Well, I don't know. But honestly, wouldn't the U.S. pay in the trillions for an EX-class item even now?"

"..."

"It’d be a miracle if our country didn't just forcibly seize it."

I flinched and gripped the mouse tightly. Cha Ildo nodded at Park Hyungtae’s words.

"...Then he should go to the States."

"See? Even the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠old man thinks so~"

"Good grief, the U.S. hasn't even said they'd pay for it, so what is everyone talking about? Right, Hyunseo?"

"...Yeah."

At my words, the other two beamed.

"Well, if Hyunseo says so, then it must be so."

"Right, that guy will handle things well on his own. What does that kind of fantasy talk have to do with us anyway?"

I burst into laughter at their sudden change in attitude. "Pfft."

It wasn't that the content was funny; it was a laugh that came from knowing them both so well. Even when they were bickering viciously, they always ended things with this kind of vibe whenever I intervened. It made me wonder if I was their long-lost child. They liked me to a surprising degree.

"Oh, Hyunseo laughed. Nice, that means I’m funny."

"What are you talking about? I’m the funny one."

"Huh? You know how to tell jokes, old man?"

"Whoa? I was a big shot once, too~"

I held my stomach and laughed at their words. "Ahahaha. Is that so important? Honestly, you two are such funny people."

Just as I was laughing my head off, Eunseo cleared her throat and opened her mouth. "Ahem, well... I have an announcement to make today."

"..."

Everyone’s gaze turned to Eunseo.

"That look! Does that mean we got a job?"

"Finally! But wait, can't we not go up to the 2nd floor yet?"

"Yeah, sounds like there’s some kind of problem."

At everyone’s words, Eunseo took a deep breath and spoke. "They’re recruiting guilds for the defense battle on the 1st floor of the new Tower of Life."

"Oh..."

"What? A defense battle?"

It was the task of building a safe zone in a region where the conquest was finished and holding off the remaining stragglers and hidden monsters. Park Hyungtae frowned at the high-difficulty mission.

"Usually, 1st or 2nd-tier hunters do that kind of stuff."

"That’s right, forget it. Who knows what’s in there."

As Cha Ildo waved his hand, Eunseo bowed her head. "The 2nd division of the Seoul and Sky Guilds suffered many casualties last time..."

"The Devil’s Tournament?"

"Yes, they’re short on personnel, so they’re recruiting the 3rd division as well."

Cha Ildo said with a stiff expression, "Then are they deploying the 3rd division separately?"

"No, they said they’ll deploy us alongside the 1st and 2nd divisions."

"Right, then it’s a bit better. If it were just the 3rd division, they’d all be slaughtered."

Eunseo nodded at Cha Ildo’s words. "And the 3rd division gets the same pay as the 2nd division."

At Eunseo’s words, Park Hyungtae and Cha Ildo’s eyes widened.

"Whoa, then is the pay 10 times higher?"

"That’s tempting, isn't it? That’s a year’s salary for one conquest."

Watching the two of them get excited, I frowned. "But it’s still a defense battle."

The three of them fell silent for a moment at my words. Honestly, it was impossible for these three to participate in a defense battle with their skills. Coldly speaking, the probability of losing their lives was 80%. But since they said they would be defending alongside the 1st or 2nd divisions, it might drop to about 50%. It was likely the concept of the 3rd division filling in the numbers for the 2nd division. It was definitely a path close to death.

But at the same time, my heart began to pound. Was this my chance to enter the Tower? I didn't even know what kind of abilities I had, yet a defense battle? I suppressed my thumping heart and said, "...Isn't it better not to go?"

At my words, Park Hyungtae and Cha Ildo hesitated for a moment.

"That may be, but..."

"The guild funds are an issue, and I have a family to support."

I nodded at Cha Ildo’s words. "I see. So, Ildo-ahjussi, you’ve spawned offspring."

"?"

Everyone looked bewildered at my words for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Good grief, am I a beast?!"

"Wahahaha! The old man spawned offspring? Wahahaha!"

"?"

When I looked at them with a 'what’s the problem?' expression, Eunseo flicked me on the forehead.

"Ow!"

"That’s an expression you only use for livestock or beasts! You say, 'I started a family' or 'I had a child.' That’s how you say it."

"..!"

My goodness, really? No wonder a hunter got angry at me a while back. I thought he was just a crazy guy, but that was why. I feel a little sorry now; I shouldn't have cut off that hunter’s arm.

"Oh, sorry, ahjussi."

"It’s alright. You couldn't help it if you didn't know. Anyway, what a funny girl she is."

"Pfft. Can't be helped. Our Hyunseo is a 'Primary-Grad.'"

I frowned at Baek Hyungtae’s words. "I’m taking that black... that test next year, you know?"

"The GED? Wow, does elementary school even have a GED?"

Eunseo nodded at Park Hyungtae’s words. "It does. That’s what she’s studying for right now."

"Hey, 'Primary-Grad' is a term she can only use for this year. Isn't that a really awkward word? Primary-Grad?"

Park Hyungtae giggled and clenched his fist. "Right, we need to save up some money to send our kindergartner to school. Let’s go for it."

"Forget it, Hyunseo’s tuition isn't a concern. The problem is..."

Eunseo sighed. "Sigh..."

"Ah, the orphanage?"

"Yeah. I have to let the orphanages we’ve been sponsoring know that the funds will likely decrease starting next month."

"Tsk." Park Hyungtae smacked his lips. "Aren't you sponsoring too much?"

"But they can barely operate without the support."

"True, it’s not an easy problem since even the government has given up on it."

Cha Ildo sat on the sofa and sighed. "It’s because so many people died because of those villain bastards."

Not everyone who awakened became a hunter. Rather than risking their lives in the Tower, robbery, murder, or becoming a celebrity hunter guaranteed much easier income. Most awakened people drifted toward being villains or celebrity hunters, and the reality was that those who wanted to be hunters were in the minority. It was a damn world. Like every other country, Korea’s crime and murder rates were skyrocketing, and as a result, the number of orphans was exploding. In Korea, orphanages and nursing facilities were a troublesome issue.

"It’s okay. I can just earn the missing sponsorship money by broadcasting."

"Pfft. That tiny internet broadcast?"

"Tiny? Are you done talking?"

"Do even a hundred people watch that?"

"Hey! It’ll grow from a hundred to a thousand!"

"Man, I’ve lived a long time, but this is my first time seeing a hunter who does internet broadcasting."

"I-it just happened. I just ended up doing it."

At Eunseo’s words, Park Hyungtae shrugged. "But didn't our guild have an emergency fund? If the sponsorship money is short, we can just use that first."

Yeon Eunseo sighed deeply at Park Hyungtae’s words. "We bought high-grade potions during the last raid."

"Ah. Ildo-ssi was injured."

"Ahem. I had to stop Eunseo-yang."

"There was someone who bought a massive amount of high-grade potions right then."

"..."

Cold sweat broke out instantly. Uh, was that me?

"We had to buy them at an incredibly high price."

"..."

"Because the market price was more than double the average."

"That emergency delivery?"

"Yes. Because someone bought 20 high-grade potions via emergency delivery, the remaining ones were incredibly expensive."

The culprit is definitely me. As I looked back and forth between the two with anxious eyes, Cha Ildo-ssi placed a hand on my shoulder. Ack, you scared me.

"Well, this is a chance to make some big money, and Hyunseo can also undergo a proper screening."

"Pardon?"

"Hyunseo, this girl. You said she lived on the front lines of the Tower. Doesn't that prove she’s strong?"

Eunseo’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes went round. "Ahjussi! Hyunseo is an unregistered hunter. Get a grip."

"Still, it’s a guarantee from the Central Guild that she’s strong, so it can't be nonsense."

Park Hyungtae chimed in. "That’s right. Even if she’s unregistered, you said she lived in the Tower. She’ll be helpful in some way."

"If you coddle her, she’ll never grow. Even if it’s dangerous, she can just run away."

"It’s a defense battle on the 1st floor, so if the situation turns unfavorable, we can just escape through the entrance gate."

"But..."

"If it were the 2nd floor, I wouldn't say this, but isn't this an opportunity?"

At their words, Eunseo looked at me as if she were wavering. "What do you think?"

"Hey, Kang Hyunseo, want to try it?"

As everyone’s gaze turned to me, my heart, which had been thumping since earlier, began to beat as if it were about to burst.

"Yeah. I can probably do my part."

When I said it confidently, everyone looked at me anxiously. What’s with those looks? I tilted my eyebrows diagonally.

"Good grief, I’m probably the strongest one here?"

At my complaint, Cha Ildo let out a 'Kek-kyak-kyak' sound and laughed. "Oh my, look at this little girl talk."

No, honestly. Even if I had lost everything, I was confident I could kill at least one or two D-class hunters. Because combat isn't just about stats and skills.

"So, is it decided?"

Eunseo hesitated at Cha Ildo-ssi’s words. "Really? We’re taking Hyunseo with us?"

"What are you hesitating for? Just listening to this kid talk, she’s a total conquest master."

"Hyunseo is only twenty, and she has problems!"

"That means she’s an adult, and the problems only exist outside. There’s no problem in the Tower."

"That’s not an easy thing to say!"

"No..."

"..."

Yeon Eunseo and Park Hyungtae started to argue, but their voices began to fade from my ears little by little. 'Returning to the Tower.' It’s sooner than I thought, but that actually stimulated my competitive spirit. In the end, the ominous things I had been blocking burst out. I suppressed the tingling sensation and smiled brightly.

"Let’s go."

"Hyunseo?"

"I’ve started to want to go back."

One week after the Nakwon Guild confirmed their participation in the defense battle. I tossed and turned with a thumping heart before opening my eyes. It was 5:30 AM. So, I had slept for about 3 hours. 'I’ve already returned to the Tower’s sleep pattern.' I staggered up from the living room floor. Once I came to my senses, I saw Eunseo preparing something.

"What are you doing at dawn?"

"Ah, Hyunseo, you’re up."

Eunseo looked at me with a pitiful expression. Hmm, seeing that look, it’s going to be nagging again.

"I really feel terrible every time I see you sleep. How on earth do you sleep without a bed, a blanket, or a pillow?"

"I’m more comfortable without them. If I have those things, I can’t breathe."

At my short words, Eunseo made a sad face and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nodded. "Still, you should at least cover yourself with a blanket. You’ll catch a cold."

"I hate it because it blocks my senses."

When I approached her, Eunseo giggled. "Hehe, I’m making a lunch box."

"Oh..."

"It’ll take a few days, so we’ll pack preserved food and canned goods, but it’s still good to eat something delicious for at least one day, right?"

"Because Eunseo’s cooking is delicious."

Eunseo stroked my hair with an embarrassed expression. "...Thank you. Actually, it’s not that it’s delicious, it’s just that you eat anything well."

"That’s natural. You have to know how to eat anything in the Tower."

"Yeah. That’s right. You said you were on the front lines for a long time, Hyunseo."

As I was helping Eunseo make the lunch box, Cha Ildo and Park Hyungtae entered with a knock.

"Sisters of Nakwon. Are you finished with the preparations?"

"We’re here."

"Ah, Cha Ildo-ahjussi!"

At my words, Cha Ildo-ssi, who was dressed in perfect hunter gear, laughed heartily. "Hoho, Hyunseo is up too. Then we can leave right away."

I nodded and said, "Yeah."

"Then let’s move all together in my car."

"Sounds good."

All the members of the Nakwon Guild who finished their preparations boarded Cha Ildo’s large van. I’m going back to the Tower. Park Hyungtae and Cha Ildo, who were watching my expression, smirked.

"Are you nervous?"

"Are you feeling nervous?"

"Hmm..."

Rather than nervous, it was a nostalgic feeling. Yeah, to borrow other people’s words... it felt like finishing a trip and returning home. But now, a home where work was waiting for me.