Tutorial Angel Beatdown

The sun-holding monster was hurled aside and spent a long moment hacking and coughing before glaring at me with savage eyes.

"You're bragging that you want me to pull it out, right?"

—Chik, chik.

"Huu—"

The creature that had only been glaring slowly began to flap its wings. Pang! In an instant the angel spread its wings wide and launched itself straight at me. In games, the tutorial is a system designed to help new players get started. Even though this place should be no different, the angel's movements were blindingly fast. Kwaang! I caught its rapidly thrusting fist and the angel's face twisted in shock.

"H-how can a player who hasn't even started the tutorial…?"

"Go home and ask your mom."

Kwaang—!! I drove my fist into its stomach and its body floated into the air before crashing to the floor with a heavy thud.

"Oh." I could feel my strength surge. So this was why Yoo Bit-na had called it the Land of Opportunity. Just by hitting monsters my stats were climbing steeply. I hadn't expected a place this good to exist. She had said there was a limit to how strong you could get on the surface. Especially after level 50 the experience needed to level up became so absurdly high that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠people flocked here in droves. Those starving for power, those who despaired after failing to obtain a blooming skill—everyone had their own reason for risking their lives to climb the tower.

The system message rang out and the air split open as another winged monster slowly emerged.

"I am the tutorial guide—"

Kwaang—!!

"Guhk!"

The angel's stomach heaved as it was launched into the air and sprawled across the floor.

"Huu—"

Cigarette smoke rose and scattered into the air.

"Why isn't this one giving me anything?"

"I am—"

Kwaang—!!

Kwaang—!!

"Baek Seol, hold on tight so you don't fall."

"Fun!"

Baek Seol, perched on my shoulder, licked my cheek.

"Huu—"

The tower that had been spitting out monsters one after another suddenly stopped summoning.

"What, give me monsters."

"If you don't give them I'll split those pigeon kids' bellies open, got it? Hey? Hand over the magic stones?"

Kwaang—!!

"Guhk."

Fortunately the threat worked and it spat out another monster.

"Huu— Next."

Jijijik. A noise sounded and the gate opened once more.

Kwaang—!! Something thin and warm wrapped around my outstretched fist as a figure slowly stepped out of the gate.

"Huh? A monster is blocking me?"

"I am not a monster."

The figure that had walked in with eyes closed slowly opened them. Golden eyes, as if holding a brilliant sun, were revealed between the eyelids. The angel that had opened its eyes spread twelve pure white wings from its back.

"My name is Ariel."

At the same time a golden wave of light swept through the air.

"Ariel… land?"

"It is not Ariel-land, it is Ariel."

Why did I feel a sense of familiarity even though this was my first time seeing them? With pure white skin and wings tinged with gold, Ariel looked like the very embodiment of holiness. Ariel's golden eyes turned toward the angels sprawled on the floor.

"Player Han Ga-eul. Please stop for the sake of the tutorial's smooth progress."

"They started the fight, didn't they?"

I nudged one of the angels on the floor with my foot and it twitched. Tick. The fallen cigarette butt spat out sparks. Even as I kept deliberately provoking them with actions that would obviously make anyone angry, Ariel's expression didn't change.

—Chik, chik.

"Huu— I have a question. Do these guys have magic stones too?"

"They do not."

Smelling like the sun yet speaking in an ice-cold tone.

"Then can I cut their bellies open?"

"Why does your conclusion lead there?"

"Because the monsters I caught are mine."

"Angels are not monsters."

I took a step closer to Ariel. They met my gaze calmly.

"To humans, all these brats are monsters."

"Is Player Han Ga-eul a species supremacist?"

"Fucking racism."

They attacked with such a petty, sensitive topic. As expected of an angel who's read a few books—their verbal skills were no joke.

"By the way, you keep ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠calling me 'player.' What does that mean?"

"The angel who should have finished explaining is lying on the floor."

"Aha."

"Because of Player Han Ga-eul, tutorials in other waiting rooms are also being delayed. This is an unprecedented situation in the tower."

The hunters in the wide hall weren't the end—there were other spaces as well.

"Ah, so what? Is there a law in the tower saying you can't beat up angels who pick fights?"

"The tower runs on rules and oaths. Therefore, since it is not a nation governed by law, such laws do not exist."

"Really? Then I won't interfere, so proceed. Just don't touch these guys—they're my honestly hunted prey."

"····I acknowledge that. However, for the sake of smooth progress, I must request that you return the angels."

"For free?"

Ariel's golden eyes met mine without the slightest movement.

"State what you desire."

"Hey, wanna be mine?"

Ariel's eyebrows, which had shown no change in expression, twitched ever so slightly.

"I am a Seraph of the Heavens, a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠first-class scribe who records the will of the Heavenly God, so I cannot accept Player Han Ga-eul's request."

"Then I just have to beat up that Heavenly God guy?"

"Blasphemy."

I extinguished the cigarette and took one more step toward Ariel until our breaths nearly touched.

"Player Han Ga-eul. If you climb the tower, you can have everything."

"That's nice. Does that include you?"

"I am female."

"Even better."

When I wrapped my hand around Ariel's slender waist, I felt warm body heat. Contrary to expectations, they leaned in without resistance. I brought my nose to Ariel's neck and caught the warm scent of sunlight. Kiss.

"Eut."

When I pressed my lips to their neck, Ariel, who had been motionless in my arms, flinched for the first time.

"Sun-scented angel. I've marked you with my saliva."

"·····."

"Take the trash with you."

Ariel, expressionless, fiddled with their own neck before snapping their fingers. A gate opened and an angel with a single pair of wings emerged.

"Let's meet on the bed next time, proud little sun."

"····My name is Ariel."

"Yeah, Ariel-land."

The single-winged angel bowed deeply to Ariel before walking toward the platform. At the same time, with a swirl of brilliant light, Ariel disappeared.

"I wonder how cutely that proud little sun will cry on the bed."

"Why are you guys looking forward to it? I'm not showing you anything."

"Only a hundred points?"

I'd disliked it ever since Yoo Bit-na started calling them toys and chess pieces. If I got the chance, I felt like I should suck the Thrones dry to the bone.

"Maiden? Are you a virgin?"

Clap clap. While I was bickering with the self-proclaimed Thrones, the angel who had walked to the platform clapped their hands.

"I am the guide in charge of the tutorial."

When the angel waved their hand, a pile of weapons appeared in one corner of the massive hall. The hunters, even though they already had their own weapons, naturally gathered around and each took one. Unless it was an exceptionally good weapon, they were treated as consumables, so this was the expected reaction. No matter how much energy you wrapped around those weapons, they would obviously snap like taffy.

Among them, a long iron club looked relatively sturdy.

"Climbers of the tower are called players and ascend to the upper floors by overcoming all kinds of trials. As you progress through the climb, you will accumulate points. These can be exchanged for useful items that players can use, and can also be exchanged as currency."

So the points the Thrones kept sending were used in that way.

"From now on, we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠will proceed with the first tutorial."

After the short explanation, the angel waved their hand without another word. The massive hall vanished and a vast grassland appeared in its place.

Deer were peacefully grazing here and there across the grassland. It was a place I had seen many times before.

Nothing had really changed. It was exactly like the FF-rank deer dungeon Yoo Bit-na had introduced. Judging by the tree that the skeletons had been using as a punching bag still standing there, it wasn't the exact same place.

I caught a badge that fell from the air and looked around. The other players were also staring into the air and moving their eyes.

"What's a Sycamore? Is that a typo?"

"Right?"

Everyone was only whispering and no one moved. They were probably in the middle of an intense staring contest. While everyone stood frozen, I took a step forward and all eyes turned to me. I sat down in the shade of the tree where I had been when I first arrived and opened a book. The other players shot me looks full of suspicion.

—Chik, chik.

"Huu—"

While leaning against the large tree and reading with a cigarette in my mouth, someone approached.

"Excuse me. Would you like to form a party?"

"No."

"Haha, as you can see, I'm a swordsman."

The man who approached tapped the scabbard at his waist. He must have been embarrassed by my blunt rejection, yet he was still smiling good-naturedly. This type was annoying because it was hard to read their true intentions.

"You're reading a book?"

"Physics textbook."

"Aha····. Are you combining physics with magic? By the way, what is your class?"

"Physics Supporter."

"Ah! A rare suppor—"

"And Saintess."

"····What?"

Crack!

"Come out, my kids."

Crack! The ground split open and five bright red skeletons burst out, burning with crimson flames.

Clack clack clack!

"Huaaak!"

The swordsman who had approached broke into a fit and backed away. I had summoned the three boss undead and suffered the pain of having my insides flipped, but since these were the weakest undead I could currently summon, it should be fine.

"Kids, get that one first."

I pointed at the Sycamore hiding among the deer with a shameless face while grazing. The red skeleton pulled out one of its own ribs.

[The Scribe of Light, Seraph Ariel (Little Sun)]