episode_0002

Before setting off, I recalled the words of a self-proclaimed hunter expert professor who appeared on TV.

One day, a unprecedented natural disaster struck humanity.

The chaotic land, crumbling sky, and rising sea.

To save humanity from such a crisis, a tower suddenly appeared.

Bronze, Silver, and Gold…

Each with increasing difficulty and varying rewards in order.

For example, by conquering the tower, one could restore the natural disaster. Some countries obtained something to advance their nation more than previous generations as a reward for conquering the tower. Even barren lands became fertile due to the actions of a single hero.

Humanity awakened to the tower and began climbing it after receiving skills from beings called “Awakeners” or “Thrones.”

Those who communicate with gods through the tower to save the world.

They are called hunters.

…It felt like an introduction straight out of a movie.

In reality, it’s a 3D industry mixed with romance.

A tall, ancient tower came into view.

– Tower of Bronze.

That very place where 【Adult】 Song Seong-yeon conquered on TV.

While less dangerous compared to the other two towers, reaching the 100th floor is a recognized achievement by all.

Even during the conquest of Bronze, the rewards received mid-way were significant enough that the author known as 【Adult】 was compelled to engage in “[Global Service]” through some kind of power and achieved her current fame.

…She’s an extraordinary person. Truly a hero.

“Thanks to such heroes, this tower must be reaching its end. It has lasted a long time.”

As hunters live on the first floor of the tower, revelers celebrating the conquest of the Tower of 【Grass】 cheered from dawn on the streets.

Some danced with joy, others watched real-time HunterTube on their phones, while some argued over drinks, and merchants selling shoddy equipment at an 80% discount in hopes of restocking lined the streets.

Everyone is happy because a colleague achieved something remarkable.

Yet, amidst the cheerful atmosphere, is there a darker side to this profession?

– Lost my job.

– What will you do now? Didn’t Maan and Cheongdong conquer the Tower of Silver?

– What about the Tower of Gold?

– The atmosphere there isn’t great. Colleagues aren’t sharing information.

– Is there restricted access?

– The 6 major guilds have restrictions.

– What are they thinking?

Upon closer inspection, there were many people, like me, stepping into the tower with a sense of melancholy.

“For people like me who live day by day, news of the tower being conquered means our livelihoods are at stake.”

After the tower is conquered, there will be a thorough reorganization. Certain levels will be occupied by large guilds, some floors will be inaccessible claiming to provide technological advancements to the country, and monster regenerations will decrease significantly. For local hunters like us, it’s practically a mandate to ‘close up shop.’

“The gold earnings from lower levels were quite good, but overnight, we’ve become beggars.”

I have some money saved, but not much.

Although the tower hasn’t completely lost its functionality yet, judging by appearances, I’m not the only colleague thinking along these lines.

In fact, some residents of the idle tower have started looking towards the tower that has begun to dim, and our eyes met.

“Hey, look over there. That spotted kid.”

“A scavenger.”

“Who is it?”

“He’s D-rank but a weirdo with a title. Remember I told you about him?”

“Oh, the guy who’s been picking up corpses recently?”

“That lunatic…”

I shrugged off the gossip.

It’s a familiar tale.

With a D-rank subject and an unusual title, he stands out excessively.

Skills are mediocre, and even the nickname is far from normal, making life miserable.

“Confirmed. Next person! The line is crowded, so move quickly!!”

There’s nothing good about getting involved with those guys. Ignoring them, I stepped into the entrance of the tower. The strategist, who is also the guild leader of the 【Thicket】 guild, seemed intent on displaying authority from the start. The gatekeeper, resembling a giant in charge of the Thicket guild, with the guild mark etched on his shoulder, checked my identification.

It was pure bad luck that it took less than 5 seconds for his busy face to turn into a grimace.

“Scavenger, with that name and your spotted body… Are you perhaps a hyena?”

“If even the gatekeeper knows, my reputation must be pretty much ruined.”

“Of course. Rumor has it that there are strange folks who climb the tower without ascending, just picking up corpses.”

“It must feel unfair to die here. At least the remains should return to their parents’ hands, right?”

“Rumor has it you scavenge corpses for profit?”

“You’re out of your mind. We’re just receiving rightful compensation.”

“Crazy… Forget it, if I keep talking to you, I might catch corpse poison too. Hurry up and go in.”

“Thank you~.”

“Tsk.”

Even licking the honey flowing here will be the last straw.

Ignoring the gatekeeper who stuck out his tongue, thinking he would forget me in less than a week, I stepped into the tower.

“[Transmit].”

Placing my hand on the entrance of the tower and uttering a word, my body was sucked into another realm.

It was a sensation that I would never get used to in my lifetime.

*

[35th Floor of the Tower of Hwangdong]

A vast field, almost unbelievable to be inside the tower, greeted me.

“Whoa.”

The sudden return of gravity in a weightless state made my head spin, but fortunately, I didn’t fall.

The 35th floor is quite a challenge for a D-rank hunter to step foot on, but being the Tower of Hwangdong, it’s not a place where very strong enemies come out.

According to top hunters active on the internet, things get serious from the 50th floor for Hwangdong, 30th for Baegune, and 15th for Hwanggeum?

I don’t know if it’s true or false, but at least that’s how it is for the Tower of Hwangdong.

“The scenery here is truly breathtaking. I wanted to camp here once. What a pity.”

In the distance, a windmill village could be seen.

Endless windmills, fields of golden wheat stretching endlessly, a land rich enough to not struggle for food despite no one living there.

– Truly an exotic sight.

That’s why this tower is called the 【Tower of Meadows】. I only operate around this area, but other floors generally have a similar atmosphere. It was obvious what the concept was, as the Thicket guild leader conquered this tower and what they gained for humanity.

“Ah. Sweet.”

Resources are abundant enough here that you can just eat nearby apples or wild strawberries. There are many animals around, and with meat not scarce, there’s no need to worry. According to information, from above the 50th floor, meat tastes like leaves, making one wonder what kind of alien world it is.

“Thanks to that, I didn’t need breakfast, which was nice, but will this last long?”

I looked around, but there were no monsters.

When the tower was active, even at this point, one or two creatures would crawl out, but now it was a peaceful farm.

So peaceful that a white creature was basking in the sun, showing its belly right in front of me.

“A rabbit taking a nap in front of a person.”

Normally, you wouldn’t see such a sensitive creature around here. Is it so peaceful that it’s comfortable enough to bask in the sun?

It might be good for someone living here, but for a daily laborer like me, it’s a dreadful thing.

“Well, can’t help it. Have to find it myself.”

Truly unpleasant.

Really unpleasant!

Really, unavoidably, I reluctantly placed the wooden box on the ground and moved to a slightly remote spot.

The contents of that box are meant to “stay away from me.”

“Come out.”

I pulled the string in that spot, opening the box.

And there, the wriggling mass of boiling bugs made my skin crawl involuntarily.

“……….”

“Ugh.”

Cockroaches.

Countless bugs, their numbers indiscernible, all stared at me.

Though they weren’t approaching, I found myself looking down in disgust, involuntarily shivering.

I couldn’t help but worry that these creatures might crawl all over me.

“If you can hear me, go to the forest immediately and find some prey. Hurry.”

──Sassassassassassat.

“Damn it…”

The army of bugs dispersed instantly.

Their dark forms concealed, but the revulsion in their sounds made me feel like I was boiling with disgust.

I’ll explain later why I’m dealing with cockroaches… But for now, earning my daily wage is more crucial.

“How did my life end up like this?”

I don’t know.

I usually don’t want to do such things, but it’s my job, so I have no choice.

The burning sensation of disgust crawling up my skin stung and hurt.

Fortunately, perhaps there was some value in enduring that pain, as the cockroaches I scattered around soon started gesturing towards prey, wandering near me.

“Where?”

───

“Here?”

I turned around within a 5-meter radius, following a few cockroaches acting as compasses, pointing towards the inside of the forest.

The terrain was vividly etched in my memory. I had been here often enough to leave footprints. The issue this time was that the footprints weren’t mine.

“This must be where those bastards live. Does respawn still occur here?”

They were large and numerous, creatures I didn’t want to disturb unnecessarily. However, given the tower’s condition, their numbers should be low. As I approached, I spotted a familiar cave at the end.

“Here it is.”

The cockroaches stopped. When I put down the box, they made unpleasant rustling sounds and returned.

Not wanting to touch the box for a moment, I scanned the area near the cave. Footprints were distinct from someone else’s recent visit.

“Did a colleague come and go? Then why would they bring me here?”

I scratched my head. Taking a torch from my pocket of collected coins, I decided to head inside. Fortunately, the cave wasn’t too vast, and soon I found the bodies of the ogre group and a small amount of gold on the ground, along with the troublemaker who caused this commotion.

It was a corpse.

Not an ogre, but a young man.

“……….”

“Did he die here?”

Of course, there was no answer. One of the man’s shoulders bore a deep indentation, likely from an ogre attack. Near the body lay several ogre corpses, presumably from a fight. There were no fatal wounds on him; rather, that was probably why he died.

“He couldn’t finish him off in one blow. He probably thought he could win and got carried away, but he was overpowered in a stamina battle and ended up dead.”

These ogres, strangely resilient.

A common mistake among newbies in the Bronze Tower.

Thinking they could win but overestimating their abilities, they ended up in a situation where they had no choice but to fight to the death.

“First, let’s take the gold. Next will be the equipment…”

As I rummaged through the man’s body, I flinched.

“Oh. Look at this.”

A pattern engraved on the opposite shoulder, a mark of the Thicket Guild.

Being on this floor means…

“Were they training a recruit? Or did they leave their comrades behind and come here alone?”

I don’t know the reason. I refrained from touching the equipment; it’s best not to meddle. Instead, I decided to retrieve the body.

“It must have been right after the guild master conquered the Bronze Tower. The base should still be here. It’s not far, so should I go straight there?”

There might be a reward, but aligning with one of the most successful guilds currently wouldn’t hurt.

I don’t know how they’ll react, but the side receiving the body often expresses gratitude.

At least relatives or family members would appreciate it.

“I should get the stretcher.”

From the item pocket, he pulled out a shovel and hoisted the body in a familiar pose.

Truly fitting to be called a “Scavenger.”

Normally, he wouldn’t bother with someone who wasn’t profitable, but for some reason, today he felt like saying, “This is how it should be done.”