Chapter 12 : Entering the 2nd Floor (1)

A week had passed since Do Yoon officially became a Hunter.

His last record was still the subjugation of the 1st-floor Great King Slime-

His level was still 2.

To raise his level more reliably, he had to enter the Tower.

“The Tower… you say?”

“Yes. As far as I know, the faster I match my level, the better.”

Therefore, he directly went to Manager Choi Gun Woo and asked.

“Mr. Do Yoon, you are indeed a peculiar person.”

“Pardon?”

“Should I say it’s as if you were born to be a Hunter?”

At Do Yoon’s question, Choi Gun Woo felt a surge of emotion.

With his extensive experience managing Hunters, he knew very well how despicable humans could become when faced with threats.

Compared to that, Do Yoon actually wanted to ascend that very danger-filled zone.

“Actually, the official approval just came through.”

“Oh. What kind of approval?”

When Do Yoon asked with expectant eyes, Choi Gun Woo handed over documents with a kind smile.

“Official approval for your climbing activities, Mr. Do Yoon, from the Association’s central body.”

The long-awaited answer finally arrives.

Do Yoon’s heart pounded with anticipation.

“Do Yoon!”

A familiar voice came from afar.

It was Han Ji Hyuk, the Hunter still maintaining his bear-like physique.

He was in charge of tanking for the team, and when he stood at the forefront, he became a wall that nothing could penetrate.

“Hyung-nim.”

“Looks like the manager already told you everything.”

“Haha, yes.”

Choi Gun Woo smiled and nodded.

“Then I’ll go and handle various handover procedures so there are no mistakes.”

“I’ll be in your care.”

Following that path, Do Yoon followed Han Ji Hyuk to the training ground within the Association.

“Normally, you can’t sense mana outside, but it’s different here.”

Something activated.

Just like when he was in the simulation room, a strange sensation brushed past Do Yoon.

And then, it appeared.

[Name: Kim Do Yoon

Lv.2

HP: 14 Strength: 15 Agility: 7 Mana: 11]

His status window after reaching level 2.

“Isn’t it amazing? It temporarily recreates the inside of the Tower, just like the simulation room.”

At this rate, training as if it were real combat would actually be helpful.

More importantly, they were beings who could exert their true power only when inside the Tower.

“This time, Do Yoon, you caught the 1st-floor boss monster and became level 2, right?”

“Yes.”

“Now it’s our turn to go to the 2nd floor, and that’s where you can consider it 본격적으로 climbing the Tower.”

(TL:(bon-gyeok-jeok-eu-ro) – means ‘in earnest’. Leaving it for emphasis if intended, otherwise ‘truly’ or ‘seriously’.)

He had heard it before.

The 1st floor was treated as a ‘tutorial’ for them.

In actual combat, he hadn’t faced much difficulty.

Catching the bouncing slimes was so easy it was anticlimactic.

“And from the 2nd floor onwards, more active monsters will appear.”

“What kind of…”

“Goblins. Have you heard of them?”

They were monsters so deeply ingrained in civilized society that not knowing them would make one a spy.

‘Even in the Gallery.’

He had seen a picture of a user in the form of a goblin.

‘Is that person also a 2nd-floor resident?’

He would have to ask directly for details, but for now, he focused on Han Ji Hyuk’s training.

“The others are busy with external activities right now, so for the time being, I’ll personally oversee your combat practice.”

He had heard that Jo Ha Rin, Cha Yoon Ha, and Jung Ah Hyun were busy with advertising activities.

‘Celebrities, huh.’

Since they were rare ability users in Korea, it was understandable that they were being promoted and pushed like that.

“I’ll be in your care, Hyung-nim.”

“From now on, you need to be on high alert. As the floors get higher, the burden on us increases, and the monsters get stronger.”

“Yep.”

Do Yoon deeply engraved Han Ji Hyuk’s teachings in his mind.

And for a long while, Do Yoon rolled on the training ground floor, undergoing training in preparation for the Tower.

Returning to his personal breakroom, he let out a sigh laced with deep fatigue.

Soaking his body in warm water, Do Yoon summoned the Gallery tab.

[Title: But isn’t it about time for newbie to enter the Tower?]

[-Feels like quite some time has passed since the last conquest]

[ㄴ (My Post) … I’m planning to go in soon anyway]

[ㄴ Is it the 2nd floor now?]

[ㄴ Who was the 2nd floor of AgedWine*’s Tower again?]

[ㄴ Are they in the gallery?]

[(My Post) Title: They said the 2nd floor is goblins?]

[-Didn’t a gallery user send me a goblin pic last time?]

[ㄴ (Pic of a goblin with a hideous smile)]

[ㄴ How may I help you, sir?]

[ㄴ Pops out immediately kekeke]

[ㄴ Top 3 ugliest Bobs enter the gallery ㄷㄷ]

[ㄴ ; Shut up]

[ㄴ (My Post) Oh]

[ㄴ (My Post) Are you the 2nd floor Bob of the Tower?]

[ㄴ That’s right, sir. If I may say so myself, I’m ranked 29th in the official gentleman ranking of the Forgotten Banquet Tower. Forbes selected, female Hunters’ favorite-]

[ㄴ AgedWine*) Hoee? Who are you?]

[ㄴ ….?]

[ㄴ “Who are you?” lol ]

[ㄴ Got cut off right after acting all knowledgeable and briefing, right?]

[ㄴ F*ck;]

[Title: This is hard to distinguish, so]

[Nickname: PaperLover*]

[- Wine-ah. Open up nickname privileges for that 2nd-floor Bob ㅇㅇ]

(TL: (Wine-ah) – informal way of addressing AgedWine*.)

[-So they don’t get confused with the other Bobs here]

[ㄴ AgedWine*) That’s a good idea, de-arling…!]

Then, immediately, a noticeable nickname began to be generated.

[Nickname: GreenUgly]

[ㄴ GreenUgly: F*ck, why is my nickname like this]

[ㄴ GreenUgly: Wasn’t I supposed to choose it?]

[ㄴ AgedWine*) Hmph, I’m glad to see you like the nickname I bestowed upon you, de-arling…!]

[ㄴ GreenUgly: Hey!]

[ㄴ GreenUgly: (Pic of an ugly goblin looking furious)]

[ㄴ Oh, sh*t]

[ㄴ Get rid of that disgusting pic;]

[ㄴ Just ramming it in recklessly ]

[Title: The Bobeob Gallery enthusiastically supports GreenUgly]

[- Ugly but a sweet bstard]

[- Seriously fckingly ugly but kind to Hunters..]

[- Just a plain ugly b*stard]

[ㄴ Isn’t this just straight-up insulting?]

[ㄴ GreenUgly: Fcking bstard]

The Gallery played around with the 2nd-floor boss mob like that for a long while.

While he looked pitiful, Do Yoon suddenly realized his position again.

‘2nd floor.’

Just like before, it would be lurking inside the boss room.

[(My Post) Title: So, can I extract a skill this time too?]

[-With Great Slime, it was acidic substance.]

[-What useful skill do you have?]

[ㄴ GreenUgly: Me? Nothing much]

[ㄴ (My Post) ;]

[ㄴ PaperLover*) Before that, what’s the exact principle of that ‘Resonance’ skill?]

Resonance.

The strange skill Do Yoon first experienced with the Great King Slime.

It allowed him to converse with boss monsters and use their skills.

However, even Do Yoon himself didn’t properly understand the principle.

He had merely acted on instinct, led by a feeling that ‘it seemed possible to do so’.

[(My Post) Title: But this is]

[-I’ll have to find out on the day itself.]

[-The principle can’t be explained accurately.]

[-With Great Slime too, it felt like I could do something like that, so it worked ㅇㅇ…]

[ㄴ ShortEaredElf*) That means the variables are strong~]

[ㄴ PaperLover*) Then there’s no choice. We’ll just have to be careful when you go.]

[ㄴ (My Post)  Still, having one skill makes it somewhat reliable.]

[Title: Did you say the 2nd floor is the goblin zone?]

[(Pic of a goblin with a vicious smile)]

[-There’s no particular way to counter these b*stards.]

[-Just killing them head-on with a straightforward method is the standard play ㅇㅇ]

[-Still, they have a habit of moving in groups, so you definitely need colleagues behind you.]

[ㄴ No matter how strong you are, getting surrounded is dangerous kekeke]

[ㄴ I never thought I’d be giving advice to a Hunter in my life]

[ㄴ (OP) It’s my first time writing an advice post, is this right…?]

[ㄴ (My Post) This is enough. Thanks]

[ㄴ (OP) Newbie said thank you to me!!!!]

[ㄴ GreenUgly) Our kids aren’t that bad]

[ㄴ Bullsh*t kekekeke Goblins aren’t bad?]

[ㄴ GreenUgly) Actually, they are bad… Ah, and newbie]

[ㄴ (My Post) ?]

[ㄴ GreenUgly) In my boss room, there are a few goblin warriors and archers too, so make sure to come with your colleagues.]

[ㄴ D*mn cunning]

[ㄴ Is this Bob-pyeong…?]

(TL: (Bob-pyeong) – likely a slang term within the gallery, possibly meaning ‘Bob’s average’ or ‘Bob’s standard’.)

[ㄴ Watch out for Hunters on your way]

Watching the Gallery users bickering amongst themselves, Do Yoon closed the Gallery.

On the day of the conquest.

Do Yoon wore an ether suit underneath and headed towards the front of the Tower in light attire.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

He answered Han Ji Hyuk’s question confidently.

He had prepared a lot in the meantime.

He rolled around in the training ground, built up his stamina, and even developed mental resistance by enduring the disgusting pictures of bosses.

He had made as many preparations as he could.

“Shall we go in?”

Jo Ha Rin suggested with her usual chic expression, and with those words as a start, we re-entered the Tower.

[Entering the ‘Forgotten Banquet Tower’…]

The first thing he saw was the familiar scenery of the 1st floor, which he had seen at the very beginning.

But there was a difference from that time.

A red portal, visible as soon as he entered.

“Once you clear a floor, you can go straight up to the next floor without having to do it again.”

“Ah.”

“Let’s quickly get organized here first.”

At those words, the Hunters began to take out equipment from their inventories and put them on.

Do Yoon was once again handed the old shield and the old two-handed sword from that time.

He didn’t have much to wear on his body either.

Compared to them, he looked far too shabby.

But it was a natural phenomenon.

Do Yoon was only level 2, while his fellow Hunters had an average level of 30.

“You don’t need to worry too much. Once you clear the floor, you can use other equipment.”

“Yes.”

“Shall we go up right away?”

“We should.”

At Cha Yoon Ha’s question, everyone nodded.

Do Yoon tightened the leather strap of his old shield once and followed the Hunters who were crossing into the red portal.

‘Let’s go.’

He had already extracted all available information from the Gallery.

Goblins.

To exterminate those ugly monsters, Do Yoon took a step forward.

[You have entered the 2nd floor.]

Beyond the black field of vision, a desolate land.

It was a stage noticeably different compared to the 1st floor.

“Mr. Do Yoon. Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

Jo Ha Rin approached and asked.

Do Yoon replied and slowly looked around.

It wasn’t that there were no green areas at all, but traces of something were definitely left behind.

“This place is…”

“The goblins’ habitat. They have a habit of moving in groups of three or four, and sometimes there are goblins that perform ranged attacks, so be careful.”

“Yep.”

Han Ji Hyuk briefly briefed on the monster’s information.

“This is a safe zone, so want to cross over right away?”

“We did all our preparations downstairs. I’m good. What about the others?”

“Agreed!”

Jung Ah Hyun raised her right hand, expressing her agreement.

Cha Yoon Ha, who was next to her, also nodded.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Do Yoon, the last one remaining.

“I’ll be in your care.”

“The difficulty isn’t that much different from the 1st floor, so let’s just stay sharp.”

Han Ji Hyuk gave a final word of caution and walked towards the transparent barrier, the zone where the monsters were.

-Caw! Caw!

Do Yoon also followed and passed through the barrier.

The moment the smell of burning brushed his nostrils, Do Yoon’s gaze naturally turned beyond the group.

Far away, black smoke could be seen rising.

“Don’t mind it. It’s just an environmental structure.”

He continued walking, following the guidance of the experienced Hunters.

Walking across the uneven terrain, a thought popped into Do Yoon’s mind.

‘Hidden Piece.’

Could it be hidden somewhere on this stage too, just as the Gallery users said?

“Could there be something like a Hidden Piece here too?”

“Probably not. I’ve never heard of a Hidden Piece appearing on a lower floor.”

“I agree.”

Jo Ha Rin chimed in with Han Ji Hyuk’s words.

“If there was a Hidden Piece in a place like this, it would be swarming with other Hunters immediately.”

Is that so.

Certainly, it was an opinion directly contradicting the Bobeob Gallery’s claims.

‘Still, that side is probably a bit more certain, right?’

Their graduation condition, said to be sleeping on each floor of the Tower.

If possible, Do Yoon wanted to find that ‘Hidden Piece’ on this floor.

While moving like that-

“Everyone, prepare for battle.”

And he found them.

A small physique that barely reached a human’s lower half.

An ugly hooked nose, and green skin.

“Wow, they’re really ugly.”

He had seen their faces in the Gallery, but they were even uglier in person.

I gripped my old sword tightly and began hunting goblins.