Chapter 22 : An Eager Young Man (2)

The master of the Tower’s highest floor began to move according to someone’s will for the first time.

Title: Hoeee…! Commencing the regular meeting of the Forgotten Banquet Tower…!!

Nickname: AgedWine*

–Target: All mobs residing in the Forgotten Banquet Tower

–Objective: Gather information about the 4th floor to relay to Newbie-jjang

–Important Point: Approach this task with a heart full of love for Newbie ><!

–Not a single one should be missing, everyone must attend as much as possible…!

–If it’s not satisfactory, a big ‘event’ will be dropped on this lax Gallery…!

[ㄴ Oh, is the admin working?]

[ㄴ But is this the right way to handle work…??]

[ㄴ Sht, this is a threat.]

[ㄴ No, Teacher, we don’t belong to your Tower, so why are we facing a crisis?]

[ㄴ AgedWine) Originally, a crisis in one Tower is a crisis for the Gallery! We must face adversity and hardship together with one heart and

mind!]

[ㄴ What the sh*t kind of logic is this?]

At Do Yoon’s urging, the admin, who had only been playing around until now, began to move.

Perhaps it was to avoid talking about the ‘5th floor.’

Because the timing was that exquisite.

Title: Wine-jwa! Sign here!

(Photo of a pen and paper neatly placed on a black and white screen)

I, Wine-jwa, master of the Tower… have been completely conquered by Newbie…

The boss monster… has been proven to be eternally the Hunter’s doormat and tool…

[ㄴ Kick this admin bstard out!!!]

[ㄴ No,,, matter how,,, cha.otic,,, the world,,, may be… to bow,,, your head,,, to the vi.lainous Hunter,,, rabble~@)))!!]

[ㄴ What’s with this bstard again?]

[ㄴ Another f*cking ridiculous concept;;]

Title: Er…. I’m a resident of Wine-jwa’s Tower, but…

–The 4th floor is quite low-level, and it’s hard to get news about Hunters there….

–Wouldn’t it be better to just have them clear it with brute force….]

[ㄴ AgedWine*) Hoeee…! I, Watashi, personally stepped forward to help, and yet]

[ㄴ AgedWine*) This is all the firepower I can muster ㅠㅠㅠ]

[ㄴ In the first place, for a f*cking low-level floor like the 4th, the boss mob cycle is fast, so it’s difficult to get information in a different sense

“Is that so.”

He had actually anticipated this kind of reaction.

No matter how much they were boss mobs in charge of each floor, the restrictions applied to them were incredibly strict.

A structure where they couldn’t even properly know each other’s locations or situations.

Indeed, befitting the profession of a Home Protector—

They were in a position where they had to be trapped in the boss room for their entire lives.

“Could it be that I can’t get skills on the 4th floor either?”

He wasn’t even hoping for a hidden piece.

But at the very least, he wanted to obtain as many useful skills and pieces of equipment as possible for future battles.

“Do Yoon oppa!”

“Oh, Ahyeon-ah.”

While on his way to find Han Ji Hyuk in the physical training room, his eyes met with Jeong Ahyeon, who was strolling down the hallway.

Beneath her beige coat, a soft-looking knit caught his eye.

More precisely, the enormous presence that moved when she ran towards him captured his attention.

‘Am I sexually frustrated?’

Do Yoon secretly chided himself and, banishing the image, greeted Jeong Ahyeon.

“Where are you going?!”

“To Ji Hyuk hyungnim, to ask him something.”

At those words, Jeong Ahyeon skillfully (?) deduced Do Yoon’s objective.

If a new Hunter had something to ask a senior Hunter, it was usually decided.

“Ahem, it’s time for Do Yoon oppa’s direct senior, me, to step up!”

Jeong Ahyeon struck a confident pose.

“Ah, about equipment.”

“Yes.”

When you think of Hunters, equipment is indispensable, isn’t it?

But for Do Yoon so far, aside from the Goblin Warlord’s curved sword, his equipment consisted only of beginner armor that wouldn’t be

surprising if it broke at any moment.

“When I was studying, they said that as you climb the floors, the restrictions on usable equipment are also lifted…”

“That’s right! You’re correct. However, in Do Yoon oppa’s case, there’s something a little special.”

Special?

Do Yoon naturally felt a question arise.

“You can only use equipment provided by the Tower inside the Tower, right?”

“That’s right.”

Mana.

Equipment within the Tower is imbued with mana.

This is where a deep gap arises between modern artifacts and equipment from within the Tower.

To block the attacks of monsters imbued with mana, equipment from within the Tower was necessary.

“To wear equipment befitting Do Yoon oppa, and to have a more proper growth path. You need to enter the 5th Floor Theme Stage.”

“So the 5th floor is the real start.”

“Yes! As Do Yoon oppa saw, when we were together until now, we weren’t wearing any special equipment either, right? The reason is that our

equipment authority isn’t unlocked on the lower floors!”

So that was another reason.

Come to think of it, the equipment status of Jeong Ahyeon and the other Hunters was indeed very simple, even compared to Do Yoon’s.

“I thought you were all deliberately wearing simple gear to match me until now.”

“Heehee, that’s also true. But it’s a section where you can’t wear it in the first place.”

“So you have to climb the floors to wear your original equipment.”

“Of course! I want to show Do Yoon oppa my equipment soon…!”

Jeong Ahyeon said, as if excited at the thought of showing off her cool appearance.

Not equipment that provided minimal defense with an added ether suit, but full-fledged gear armed according to skill aptitude and

profession.

Jeong Ahyeon possessed the beautiful equipment of a priest.

‘H-he’ll definitely like it, right?’

It would be the same feeling she had when she saw Ji Hyuk ahjussi and Ha Rin unni during her rookie days.

Back then, she was so envious and thought it was so cool that she couldn’t even sleep properly.

“Of course, once you enter the 5th floor and start clearing it in earnest, your authority will automatically be unlocked! You’ll also be able to

acquire and use equipment that suits Do Yoon oppa!”

Jeong Ahyeon secretly imagined Do Yoon’s future appearance.

Any equipment would look good on his well-defined, leanly muscled body.

Light armor, or even heavy armor like that of a heavy infantryman.

‘Everything would suit Do Yoon oppa.’

Especially if he teamed up with her, a priest by specialty, it felt like they would achieve the absolute best efficiency.

“Um… When should we start clearing the Tower again?”

Jeong Ahyeon gently asked Do Yoon’s thoughts.

Since the entire process so far had focused on Do Yoon’s growth, his condition was the most important factor at this point.

No matter how much he was showing an unconventional pace based on outstanding potential, at least some time to relieve mental fatigue was—

“Uh… Tomorrow?”

“The faster we clear it, the better, right? There’s no need for us to wait around either.”

Jeong Ahyeon quietly looked into Do Yoon’s eyes.

Quiet pupils where blackness was deeply submerged.

Sensing a strange chaotic presence within them, Ahyeon couldn’t help but subtly doubt him.

‘Does he not know?’

The Tower’s mana drives challengers mad.

It seeps into the mind, shaking the challenger’s identity and foundation itself.

“Really? Are you really okay?”

“Ah… Yeah. I’m really fine?”

A sudden silence descended.

Do Yoon was flustered by Jeong Ahyeon suddenly staring intently at him.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

“You know that being exposed to a lot of the Tower’s mana can drive you crazy, right?”

“I know.”

“Then, do you also know what it means to constantly desire entry into the Tower?”

“Ah.”

“Still, I don’t think Do Yoon oppa is at that point. If anything. You, you fight too well. And also…”

It wasn’t suspicion. Rather, it was worry.

Because it was a world where a brilliant talent that had barely emerged could be destroyed by a momentary delusion.

“If Do Yoon oppa is really okay, I won’t stop you. We trust oppa, no, we have to trust him.”

“You’re really, okay, right?”

He started with excellent mana aptitude.

As if designed to enter the Tower, and inside, he even gained the ability to directly converse with boss monsters.

If he were a typical Hunter, a rookie within the bounds of Ahyeon’s common sense, he would have died or gone mad long ago.

Because it was Do Yoon, because Do Yoon was special.

Such faith, predicated on an abstract hypothesis, could break and shatter at any moment.

And that one deviation could lead to the annihilation of the party.

She knew it, even if she didn’t want to.

“I’m fine. I just had a mental check-up recently, and there were no problems there.”

But Do Yoon was surprisingly, completely fine.

If he had been having nightmares every night, he wouldn’t have been able to suggest clearing the Tower with such confidence.

His mind was clear every day, and his physical condition was optimal.

He even had the Boss Mob Gallery, the best helpers he couldn’t find anywhere else, backing him up.

Just as Ahyeon knew what she should be concerned about, Do Yoon also knew that unnecessary hesitation was poison.

Hesitate, and you die.

He had received such a lesson in the hell he had experienced that day.

“And you’re here too, Ahyeon. South Korea’s best healer.”

At the direct compliment from Do Yoon’s lips, Ahyeon’s ears instantly turned red.

“Th-that kind of thing…!”

“If it’s a real crisis, I can just get help from you then, Ahyeon. I’d like the 4th-floor clearing to proceed as quickly as we discussed.”

The 5th Floor Theme Stage.

He was incredibly curious about what lurked there, and what he could obtain.

‘I need equipment too.’

The Goblin Warlord’s curved sword was definitely a reliable weapon, but to become a proper Hunter, he needed more experience and

equipment.

Ahyeon, misinterpreting the strange desire in Do Yoon’s eyes, fidgeted with her fingers and hastily excused herself.

And the next day.

Due to Do Yoon’s strong appeal, the Hunter team immediately entered the 4th floor.