episode_0047

[Tower of Lust, 13th Floor]

When I came to my senses, we were breaking through the layers with the momentum of lust.

At first, she said it was a date, but all I saw was the milk of lust.

Milk, milk, milk, milk, milk… It was a scene that should have been arousing, but now I was tired of seeing it.

“Hey.”

“Yes.”

“You said this was a date.”

“I did.”

“You said you wanted to look good for me.”

“Yes.”

“But what is this mess?”

In front of the 13th floor safe zone.

The entire building declared a “No Kids Zone” in front of the department store, and we stuffed triangular kimbap into our mouths.

The bodies of the lustful dust piled up like mountains.

On the ground, funny drop items that men wouldn’t want were scattered, and one lustful creature who was approaching us stepped on it and stumbled and fell.

“We must have caught a thousand of them together. What a feat.”

Seress opened her item bag.

Like a vacuum cleaner, the dropped items on the floor were absorbed.

Unlike the cheap stuff I use, the items over there are a bit pricey.

“Are you planning to make a fortune with that?”

“A fortune?”

“These are just random items. Will they sell?”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. These are not random items. They may look funny, but they are rare items that are popular worldwide.”

…Really?

“Moreover, with this tower closed and the supply cut off, the prices outside are skyrocketing. Judging by the number of dropped items, there are roughly 400. If they all sell, it could easily fetch 8 to 10 billion.”

“……….”

I couldn’t believe it.

“How many billion?”

“8 to 10 billion. Since I caught 60%, I will have ownership of that much, but at least 4 billion will go back to you, Changgi.”

“How many hours have we been in the dungeon?”

“We left at 10 pm last night and it’s now 4 am. It’s been a total of 6 hours.”

I’ve never made this much as a hunter.

Is this how the upper floors are supposed to be?

I feel like my sense of money is going to shatter.

“Why are those things so expensive?”

“The items dropped by those women have special effects. For example, the cradle they drop. That’s the best. A baby who cries for 10 hours a day will become so quiet here that they won’t cry at all. And the effect lasts for a few hours even outside the cradle.”

With a simple explanation, I understood why it was popular worldwide.

“Even the dropped baby clothes have a similar effect. The powdered milk dropped here is a special remedy for congenital anomalies. Even cases of tic disorders are completely cured with just one dose.”

It’s a desired item for certain parents.

“For strollers, they protect the child inside. For baby bottles, they help with the growth of young children. Antibodies, physical abilities, sensitivity, memory… They may not excel in all areas, but they become outstanding in one aspect.”

“…Are baby bottles in the realm of miracles?”

“Yes. The drop rate is so low that you have to catch thousands just to get one… Today, we got this much, so we’re lucky. This one item is worth 4 billion.”

Am I going crazy?

“Are you seriously here to fill my wallet?”

“Because now is the most expensive time. I learned that filling a man’s pocket is also a woman’s virtue.”

“Where did you learn that?”

“It often comes up in harem novels for men.”

Why did you refer to that?

“I saw that there were comic books scattered in Sunyeon’s room, so I used them as a reference for dating.”

‘Sometimes, in wealthy women characters, there are cases where they give various things to the male lead-‘

Sunyeon has quite the taste.

Although cliché, they are characters that fulfill a person’s fundamental desires.

Unfortunately, Seress is not the type that suits that.

“How would you like me to proceed? Shall I transfer it to your account?”

“Send it to my parents.”

“All of it?”

“I’ll leave a little for me to write. They’re not going to read it anyway. They write better than me.”

Since the initial goal of becoming a hunter was just to make a living roughly.

Judging by the situation, I don’t think I’ll have to worry about making a living in the future.

“Understood. I’ll send the money to my parents….”

He stopped talking.

“Why?”

“By the way, I was really surprised.”

“What about?”

“The speed of growth. I never imagined that you would be able to keep up with the hunting speed, let alone copy my skills.”

“It’s because of your help. If I were alone, I would have been overwhelmed and probably in a critical state by now.”

“I’m saying this considering that. Why are you only at D rank with that skill? If you had stopped being a solo hunter and joined a group or learned from others, you would have been well-known by now. I don’t understand why you were alone.”

“…There were circumstances.”

“There must have been something more than just the title.”

“Don’t ask. I have no intention of telling you.”

He touched the drink being sold by an NPC in the department store.

He replenished his lost sugar and calories, relaxing his tension.

“So, today’s goal is just this, right? Let’s go back then. I’m exhausted from pushing myself too hard.”

He said it was 4 a.m., so if he goes back, washes up, and prepares well, it will be just before sunrise.

It’s not morning, and it’s a midnight tower raid. What a foolish thing to do….

“Well, what should we eat when we go back? I feel like I’ll gain weight if I eat late at night.”

“No need for that. The date hasn’t started yet.”

“…What date?”

“You asked to go on a date today.”

He slapped his forehead.

“Oh! This wasn’t a date?”

“Who in the world calls beating up monsters a date?”

Even though it’s true, I didn’t want to hear that from you.

“Can we go somewhere else to talk?”

“Yes. We’re going to head to the 16th floor now. There’s a specific gimmick there that’s quite nice for men and women to be together. I really want to go there with you.”

The 16th floor… It’s the floor where the system guild members are spending their time.

It seems like the gimmick is changing again.

“If we arrive at the 13th floor, it will be morning.”

“That’s what I’m aiming for. We can also have our meal there, so let’s just replenish our stamina here and go back.”

He had a tight schedule.

Why did he bring me to such a place as the 16th floor?

“Judging by yesterday’s tone, it seems like you’re anxious. I have a feeling that you’re going to play a big move to provoke me.”

Hupall, Fyzri, Pella, then this time it’s definitely 100% sex.

She definitely has no intention of fulfilling this for a month.

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, how do we get to the 14th floor?”

“This time, let’s take the subway. If we take line 1 and arrive at the end, it will automatically transfer.”

“Oh, is that the gimmick? But isn’t the subway crowded with monsters?”

“Yes. That’s why this is a challenge. We can’t get off, but they keep replenishing their numbers at every station.”

“It’s a defense.”

“A defense that can ruin your life with one mistake. If you’re not confident in your skills, you can take a bus to the near the end.”

Playing with gimmicks.

“Phew.”

This area seemed peaceful as there were no monsters in sight.

As expected, it was a good place to relax without monsters.

“Are there any victims somewhere in this vast map?”

“I’m not sure if they can be called victims, but there are quite a few.”

As we headed to the subway, we saw a yellow warning sign on the other side of the road.

In the distance, we could see the monsters.

‘This is insane.’

The green-vested monsters with the words “Mother’s Association” on their backs.

‘Are those…? The ones who volunteer in areas where there are many schools and children…’

Sure enough, the green monsters were controlling the road for the adults.

– Today’s on-site learning on the 13th floor ends here!

– A dangerous hunter has entered the tower, so let’s hurry back to school!

– Don’t run too fast. Be careful not to get hurt.

– Got it? Don’t follow any hunters you don’t know!

– Those who follow just because they’re promised candy will regret it!

Blowing a whistle, the adults are helping each other cross the road.

All the adults, regardless of gender, are wearing diapers and following along obediently.

Indeed, it’s a “Children’s Protection Zone.”

“If it goes on like this, it’ll be a disaster.”

“Yeah.”

One adult, instead of obediently following, is smiling with a piece of candy in their mouth.

A voice asking what they did at home with Mama is barely audible.

Among these adults, there is one who happily responds, “Mama gave me a new toy to play with!” as if regressing to a child.

It was too terrifying.

“…Surprising.”

“What do you mean?”

Among these adults, there are real children mixed in, disguised as adults.

There are about ten of them, with black, silver, blonde, and red hair… representing all races.

They are dressed in pretty clothes, receiving special treatment, and not speaking vulgarly like the adults.

“Oh, they’re orphans.”

“What do you mean by orphans?”

“Back when this tier was open, many people abandoned their children here and left. They thought that the heretics with such a strong wall would take good care of them.”

“……”

“Unfortunately, that expectation turned out to be true. They were so kind that they could be called necessary evils. Even though they were abandoned, they did not attack when people came to take the children. Because of that, many ordinary couples started coming here.”

“Is their treatment different?”

“The heretics do not touch the children, regardless of gender. They treat them with more respect than the adults and act more like parents.”

In other words, it’s a global orphan spot.

“Are these kids scattered around here?”

“They are scattered, but it’s rare to see real children on the 13th floor.”

“Why is that?”

“We made a pact with the heretics at the time. The 15th floor is the area where you left the children to be raised, so please don’t attack. We accepted the proposal in case we might harm the children, and the heretics agreed not to send the children down from the 15th floor to protect them.”

“Was it because they thought it was safe since the tier was closed for a while?”

“That seems plausible. It looks like they are going to move the children to another tier from now on.”

And it was true.

As soon as they crossed the crosswalk and entered the elementary school, except for the adults, the real children transitioned to the upper tier with light.

“No wonder the heretics on the 11th and 13th floors reacted excessively. It was to protect the children.”

“Are we the bad guys?”

“Don’t be silly. They are invaders. We are challengers to protect the world. If you misjudge, you’ll end up like them.”

The remaining adults who did not transition returned to the elementary school.

The heretics revealed a lewd smile and are sexually approaching.

“Adults are mostly in places like that. Priority 0 is kindergartens, elementary schools, or playgrounds in front of apartments. Children’s pools. If they’re not at school, they’re often in the training camp building.”

It’s quite a spectacle to see all the adults playing on the playground with a childish taste.

“But do they at least get to go to school?”

“No. There is no middle school here. After graduating from kindergarten, they remain elementary students for life. And even 3rd grade is the end.”

“The heretic kids here are really deep in the game.”

Is the training camp that has been abolished and disappeared still here?

I was curious about how they managed the adults in our area.

“Chang-gi, what was your childhood like?”

“Out of the blue?”

“Since we have some time to spare. Or are you planning to dig into my past and keep it to yourself?”

“I don’t have a depressing past like you. Just went to elementary school, then high school, living a normal life.”

“What about friends?”

“Eh. I have people I keep in touch with, but none that I would consider ‘real close friends.’”

“You said you lived a normal life?”

“Until third grade in elementary school, I was treated like a hero for jumping into a fire to save someone, but once I grew taller, I was treated like a nerd again. Kids at that age are like that. They all follow along and laugh when something funny happens, but there are hardly any who show empathy.”

“What about in middle school?”

“By then, no one even remembered the incident from elementary school. There were more kids teasing out of curiosity. I was called ‘nerd’ more than my name, and even teachers joined in, so I couldn’t do anything about it. I had friends, but I distanced myself and didn’t see them after entering high school.”

“Was it similar in high school?”

“By that time, most kids were more mature, so there weren’t many incidents like that, but there were always a few who created a tense atmosphere.”

Looking back, it seems like I didn’t have an easy school life without being bullied.

“You also served in the military for a while, right?”

“Yeah, the battalion commander at the Military Manpower Administration was furious, asking why they sent someone like me to active duty.”

A world where even those with full-body burns go to active duty. Amazing.

If Seongyeon’s actions hadn’t led to the unit’s disbandment, he might have completed his military service and been discharged.

“How was your military service?”

“It was worse than school. A private kept calling me ‘nerd’ instead of my name, and every time he did, he mimicked a dog barking.”

“And you just let that slide?”

“I reported him to the military police and to the company commander. But within a few days, the unit was disbanded, and everyone was discharged, so it was all meaningless.”

On the way back, I happened to run into the face that smirked at me, still vivid in my memory.

What a jerk.

“Aren’t you still in pain?”

“Occasionally, on rainy days, but it’s not as severe as it looks.”

“Even so, it’s good that the pain lingers.”

We arrived at the subway station.

Despite the crowded platform, we chatted as if we had returned to the guild home.

“Why? Do you enjoy seeing me in pain?”

“Of course not. We’re heading to the 16th floor now, where the gimmick there is effective for old wounds.”

“Is there a healing hot spring like in an RPG?”

“Not a hot spring, but something similar.”

“A sauna?”

“Yes, a jjimjilbang.”

What the hell.

A jjimjilbang on the 16th floor?

Why would there be one at the top?

“I heard you’ve been there recently. It’s a gimmick that’s a bit funny and time-consuming, but as a Changgi, you’ll enjoy it.”

With that said, I couldn’t help but feel a bit excited.

-Ding dong! Ding dong!

-Now arriving at the 13th floor. 13th floor.

-The train is approaching.

-There is a wide gap between the platform and the train.

-Please be careful when boarding.

The train arrived just in time.

As the wind brushed past my cheek, the perverts stuck to the glass inside the train stared at us intently.

“Let’s go. I’ll lead the way.”

“It smells like sweat inside.”

With determined expressions, we entered the back of the car.

Smoke billowed immediately, and numerous drop items flashed before us, tempting our wallets.