Chapter 19 : A bizarre something

“Are you well prepared?”

“Yes!”

To the question asked while he was lightly warming up, Do Yoon answered confidently.

Following the Association’s guidance, they were entering the final preparation stage just before entering the Tower.

His eyes met with a soldier in the distance who was looking at him with a tense face.

‘They’re going through a lot.’

Do Yoon knew that position and feeling very well.

“Yeah.”

Ahyeon, who had finished her preparations first, helped Do Yoon with various things by his side.

“Do you know what mainly appears on the 3rd floor?”

“Yeah, I heard roughly through the Helper skill.”

“Aha…! Still, since I have some practical experience, I’ll tell you clearly one more time!”

Ahyeon’s proactive helping hand.

Do Yoon willingly accepted her support.

Things to be careful about on the 3rd floor, the monsters’ weaknesses, and even the location of the boss room.

Precious information that you couldn’t get anywhere even if you paid for it was leaking out.

“…So, it’s best to actively use Yoon Ha unni’s magic or ranged attacks if possible!”

“I see.”

“Each individual has different characteristics, so rather than just rushing in, you’ll need to understand their nature and attack them with different methods each time.”

“Thanks.”

Do Yoon nodded and then got a strange feeling.

When he turned his head, his eyes met with the Hunters who were looking this way.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“…No.”

“When did you two get so close?”

At Cha Yoon Ha’s honest remark, Ahyeon, who was next to her, stiffened abruptly.

“Ah… We talked about a lot of things at the cafe last time.”

“Talked? Hmm…”

Reacting to Cha Yoon Ha’s suspicious response, Ahyeon stood up from her seat.

Her earlobes were flushed red; she seemed quite flustered.

“I, I think I’ve said everything I can, doesn’t anyone else have anything to say?!”

“Because you said everything we were going to say.”

“I, is that so…”

She really had said everything.

They could cover any missed parts in the floor’s safe zone, so the Hunter party decided to enter the Tower for now.

“Let’s check our stats as soon as we enter, and adjust them individually.”

“Yes.”

“Do Yoon oppa, you went up 2 levels last time! I’m so curious…!”

Jo Ha Rin replied lightly, and Jeong Ahyeon looked at Do Yoon with eyes full of anticipation.

Actually, he had already checked in the training room, but Do Yoon did not betray such expectations and nodded.

“Entering.”

[You are entering the ‘Forgotten Banquet Tower’!]

Receiving the usual welcome from the status window, the five Hunters belonging to South Korea entered the 3rd floor.!

In an instant, they moved from the 1st floor to the 3rd floor.

As he opened his eyes to unfamiliar air, a landscape not much different from the 2nd floor greeted Do Yoon.

According to what he had avidly read in the Gallery, the environment of each floor was heavily influenced by the monsters dominating it.

[
Title: Seems like the 3rd-floor master isn’t on Bopgael, so I’m spoiling it in advance lol

Nickname: PaperLover*

–From what I remember, Wine-jwa’s Tower 3rd floor is mostly bug-type mobs.

–Maybe they’re not here because they have no intelligence from the start.

–Anyway, it might be a bit dangerous for newbies who fight up close.

–Because those guys are the ones who are powerful at close range.

–Pay more attention to your surroundings when fighting and make good use of your teammates. Then you should be able to clear it smoothly

enough.

ㄴ Ah, so the condition for entering the Gallery was whether you have intelligence or not?

ㄴ PaperLover*) I don’t know either.

ㄴ PaperLover*) It’s just a hunch, you know.

ㄴ This bstard, why so confident… oh, it’s because they’re a Tower Master.

ㄴ What’s with realizing it while talking? lol

ㄴ But then again, Newbie conversed just fine with the mindless Slime King last time, didn’t he?

ㄴ Ah, right?

ㄴ ShortEaredElf) Perhaps that works separately from the ability that allowed Newbie to enter the Gallery~

ㄴ What

ㄴ Are you saying we’re inferior to Daeseuri now;

ㄴ ShortEaredElf*) I never said that?

ㄴ If you’re a low-tier mob getting triggered for no reason, hit like lol

]

Do Yoon took his eyes off the Gallery and shifted his gaze to his status window.

[
Name: Kim Do Yoon
Lv.4

Stamina: 17 Strength: 18 Agility: 9 Mana: 14
]

The increased stats compared to last time were noticeable.

‘With this much, I should be able to use skills without much trouble.’

From experience, he could use Daeseuri’s acidic digestive fluid a maximum of twice during combat.

Stamina consumed by mana recovered quickly with a little rest, but it was still a factor that couldn’t be ignored during battle.

“Is there anything strange?”

Han Ji Hyuk approached and asked.

“No, my condition is good. My stats are the same as last time.”

“Then…”

Sensing Han Ji Hyuk’s subtle expectation, Do Yoon immediately responded.

-Shhng…

A curved blade, drawn from its sheath.

It was an S-rank curved sword obtained directly from the Goblin Warlord.

‘It already feels good.’

Perhaps because a Gallery member had personally gifted (?) it, he felt as if he had already defeated an unseen enemy.

“It certainly looks high quality.”

“Because it’s S-rank. I think I’ve only seen one or two in my entire life.”

“Was it a Hunter from China or the US?”

“Yes.”

“They said a Hunter who obtained S-rank equipment also appeared in Japan this time!”

“Everyone’s really flying high, huh.”

Han Ji Hyuk gave a wry smile and looked at what was in Do Yoon’s hand.

No matter how low a floor the equipment came from, it was an S-rank weapon.

It would likely possess stats that wouldn’t fall short even when compared to equipment from the middle floors or higher.

‘It’s good.’

Genuinely pleased with the growth potential of Do Yoon, its owner, Han Ji Hyuk made a final check of Do Yoon’s condition.

“Then, shall we deploy immediately?”

“Sounds good, Hyungnim.”

Do Yoon answered without hesitation.

“Let’s go right away then.”

With Jo Ha Rin’s reply, the Hunters’ full-scale assault began.

The objective was the same as before.

Focusing on Do Yoon’s growth, assisting him as much as possible.

-Kishit!

In the distance, a monster with a rather grotesque form could be seen.

“Ugh…”

Jeong Ahyeon recognized it and shuddered in disgust.

For them, who already had experience clearing floors above the 20th, it wasn’t a particularly difficult level.

But the appearance that touched upon fundamental human emotions couldn’t be helped.

A glistening carapace, multiple legs, twitching antennae.

“Woah, sh*t.”

Do Yoon also instinctively flinched upon encountering the 3rd floor’s mob monster for the first time.

‘Chomoti.’

As soon as Do Yoon saw its repulsive appearance, he naturally recalled Chomoti’s face.

Back then, they had at least exchanged warm words, but what the hell was this?

Seriously wondering if the order of the Tower floors was ‘repulsiveness,’ Do Yoon took his stance.

“It’s coming!”

“Watch out for its attack, Do Yoon-ssi, you go first!”

“Yes!”

To gain fresh experience points.

Do Yoon’s tear-jerking sword dance began.

A sharp foreleg swung around.

It wouldn’t be strange for a limb to be severed if even one blow landed, but Do Yoon didn’t stop.

‘Slower than the Warlord.’

Perhaps because it was a mob monster, it was definitely slower compared to the Goblin Warlord.

Do Yoon quickly ran near the insect, dodged its attack, and immediately swung his curved sword.

With a soft sound, one of the insect’s legs was instantly severed.

“Oh….!”

The strength of the carapace, judging by its appearance, seemed formidable.

The current situation was solely due to the power of the Goblin Warlord’s curved sword.

The insect, its balance lost with the absence of a leg, was instantly pinned to the ground.

-Thwack!

Do Yoon didn’t panic and aimed for the fallen insect’s most vulnerable part.

A strike to its writhing belly.

-Kwajik!

As if adding credibility to Do Yoon’s guess, green fluid gushed out along with violent resistance.

However, the fate of a monster whose weakness had been pierced once does not change.

-Thud.

After allowing a few more attacks, the monster, its life exhausted, limply collapsed.

“…It’s not even surprising anymore.”

“Is that so?”

“Usually, it’s normal to be so surprised you do a somersault.”

Jo Ha Rin said, pointing at the limp corpse of the monster.

“As you can see, the visuals are a bit…”

Jeong Ahyeon and Cha Yoon Ha had long since distanced themselves far away.

“For your information, Ahyeon was crying and wailing…”

“Aaah!! That story, why, again…!”

But at Han Ji Hyuk’s teasing, Jeong Ahyeon yelped and hit his back.

Suppressing his laughter at the skit-that-wasn’t-a-skit, Do Yoon looked up at the sky.

‘Are you doing well there?’

Chomoti.

The teachings you gave me are working here too.

He never imagined he’d receive teachings from a boss mob in his life, but now Do Yoon was practically one with the Gallery.

“Let’s catch a few more, and once we get used to it, let’s go straight to the boss room.”

“…Because that’s faster for leveling up?”

“That’s right. If you don’t feel any particular difficulty, there’s no reason to stay on one floor for long.”

Beings from outside the Tower go mad the longer they stay here.

Reminded once again of that obvious reality, Do Yoon and the Hunters continued to move forward.

A green area overgrown with grass.

It wasn’t much different in form from the 1st and 2nd floors, but an unfamiliar sensation crept up.

After additionally dealing with a spider-type monster, Do Yoon briefly checked his physical condition.

‘It’s to the point where I don’t even need to use skills.’

Even if he used them, they were heavily influenced by the situation and timing, but their power was reliable.

Nevertheless, without relying on skills.

Do Yoon was freely hunting the monsters of that floor.

‘This is working.’

It was definitely a floor he was encountering for the first time, monsters he was encountering for the first time.

But the reason he could naturally handle some of them was—

[
Title: Newbie, the cooldown’s over

–(Image of writhing tentacles)

–(Image of a goblin licking its lips)

–Honestly, who’s more handsome? Give an objective evaluation.

ㄴ Wow, this is disgusting.

ㄴ Battle of the century;;

ㄴ Why bring out a picture of dead Chomoti again lol

ㄴ This b*stard keeps crawling out to the Gallery even after graduating 

It was because of the reliable support from everyone in the Gallery, who continuously trained his mental strength and mana resistance.

Near the boss room, an area was faintly glowing.

“I’ll enter right away.”

Just as Do Yoon said that and was about to move to the portal.

“Wait.”

Han Ji Hyuk blocked Do Yoon with a stern face.

“Why…”

As he said that and turned his head in the direction of the gaze, he faced ‘it.’

A bizarre physique that couldn’t possibly be considered human.

A tall figure with long limbs, wearing a mask, was watching Do Yoon and the other Hunters.

-Chills.

Do Yoon unknowingly felt a sense of intimidation.

‘What is this.’

An unfamiliar and suffocating sensation he had never felt even from monsters trying to kill him.

“It’s a Hunter.”

“Ah.”

Han Ji Hyuk said, his tone laced with tension.

The other Hunters’ expressions were also stiff.

Numerically, Do Yoon’s team had the advantage, but no one could observe the situation with composure.

Jo Ha Rin and the others had also felt it.

That someone who should never have been here had descended.

Finally, the thing that was slightly tilting its head as if observing them, spoke.

“Earth’s, Hunters, are you.”

Though not fluent, it was clearly speaking Korean.

A hoarse and unpleasant vocal range.

Because it wore a mask, its true intentions were even more unknowable, and the Hunters near Do Yoon readied their weapons.

“Who are you.”

“Hunter. Origin, mid-high, floor.”

Mid-high floor.

A Hunter from another world who possessed a higher progression rate than them.

And here, being from a different origin implied they were competitors.

Han Ji Hyuk’s and the Hunters’ expressions grew even grimmer.

“Why did you address us?”

“Wanted to, ask. You too, strong enough, not to belong here. Know, it. You’re looking after, that kid, right.”

“If so, what I have to say, is simple. We too, have a kid. Must enter 5th floor, but, numbers are insufficient.”

“So?”

The masked one’s head turned precisely towards Do Yoon.

“If your side, will come up to 5th floor, my purpose is complete. Hurry up, and come.”

“Then why are you here….”

“Whoever, was watching when they’d come. Was getting, anxious.”

The masked Hunter, as if its purpose was truly finished, arbitrarily walked away into the distance.

Separate from the nerve-wracking first encounter, it was a rather anticlimactic departure.

“…What was that?”

“It seems they stopped by briefly because of the 5th floor.”

“The 5th floor means…”

“A theme stage. From there, you have to cooperate with other Hunters to clear the floor.”

“It means we can only intervene up to the 4th floor.”

Jo Ha Rin added to the explanation.

From the 5th floor onwards, only Hunters of similar levels must cooperate to clear the floor.

It also meant that a completely different system was being applied compared to the floors Do Yoon had experienced so far.

“In that case…”

“Don’t worry. You’ve done well so far, so the 5th floor will be no problem.”

At the touch of a hand grabbing his sleeve, Do Yoon’s gaze shifted.

He saw Jeong Ahyeon with a worried look in her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah.”

Only then did Do Yoon look down at his own hand.

It was trembling.

He had inadvertently imagined confronting that Hunter from before.

‘I’d lose, unconditionally.’

He could be so sure without even experiencing it directly.

That’s how overwhelming the difference in class felt.

“…Is it a relief that they just left?”

“No matter how abnormal Hunters from other worlds are, they tend to have some discernment. They probably really came to cooperate because of the 5th-floor theme stage.”

“For now, let’s deal with the boss room in front of us first.”

“Yes.”

Do Yoon steeled his heart and decided to focus on the problem immediately before him.

The boss of the 3rd floor.

The full-fledged floor clearing began.