I’m the only magic tower owner episode 065
20 hours before the full opening of the Labyrinth Dungeon.
Regardless of the Hunter Association’s movements, the Magic Tower was making its own preparations.
– Tower owner, preparations are complete.
“Let’s begin.”
Jeong Seo-jin opened his laptop at the magic tower and entered data. And on the monitor screen, Ea was displaying the same image in front of my wise man’s eyes.
There were so many dungeons spread out on the map that it was dizzying.
It is a sight that cannot be seen by other people in the car. Of course, everyone was exhausted and fell asleep.
“Now, let’s take it slow. First, go to the Gyeongbuk range we initially set.”
-yes.
The entire map of the Korean Peninsula on the screen was limited to the Gyeongbuk region.
“Did you receive the association materials?”
-yes. I received it via email from CEO Shin Nara.
I closed my eyes for a moment, thought, and then said.
“First, delete all dungeons opened today.”
There is no time. Now is the time to take a gamble.
I assume there won’t be any dungeons leading to the Labyrinth in recent times.
After a while, some of the red dungeons on the screen disappeared, but there were still too many dungeons to check.
‘It shouldn’t be erased like this.’
If we try to consider this many cases, there is no end to it. Yes, let’s be a bit more bold in taking chances.
“Just delete everything except the dungeon opened on the first day.”
I assumed that the dungeon leading to the labyrinth boss zone had actually been there since the first day.
The reason why it takes ‘7 days’ for the labyrinth dungeon to fully bloom. To quote Erendel’s research data additionally discovered by Jeong Seo-jin, it is said that the time it takes to establish the connection process between the labyrinth dungeon and the battles it wields is 7 days.
Other experts may hesitate due to the ‘uncertainty of the abnormal phenomenon’, but this can be boldly eliminated based on information from the Magic Tower.
-I erased it.
Jeong Seo-jin erased all dungeons from the map except for the first day. More than half of the dungeons have disappeared.
“Among the dungeons opened on the first day, are there any that you haven’t cleared yet?”
-Not in the Gyeongbuk area.
“Okay then…”
I took a breath and said.
“Only the green dungeon that has been reconfirmed remains here.”
According to common sense, there is no need to search further for dungeons that have been re-checked.
However, it is the association’s job to follow common sense, and I had a different take on it.
What I focus on is ‘intentional malice.’
-That’s it.
“okay.”
We continued to eliminate in this way until we had fewer and fewer samples.
There are about twenty places left.
“The most suspicious thing is, of course, this one.”
Dungeons in the Gyeongbuk region were reconfirmed at a strangely fast rate as soon as the association implemented a reconfirmation policy.
– Top owner. You can hack the association command center and retrieve the profiles of cleared people.
‘There’s no need for that, eh. No matter how much we look at the profiles, we cannot find out what thoughts and ideas these people had.’
After wrapping things up, I decided to tour a total of seven dungeons.
‘Ah. ‘Choose a route considering movement and importance.’
-All right.
I looked at the people stretched out in the car, exhausted. I let him sleep for about three hours, so he should be okay now.
“Come on, everyone! Wake up!”
At my shout, everyone stood up and gathered their gear. There were no people complaining. Everyone was aware that time was running out.
“Whoaam, did you give me instructions for conquering the next dungeon?”
I shook my head in response to Yang Hee-jong’s question.
“No. From now on, our party will ignore the Association’s instructions and proceed independently.”
Everyone’s eyes widened at my declaration.
“Everyone is so tired. I’ll focus on nearby dungeons that need rechecking. Seojin has planned the route.”
The association tried to send us to a newly opened dungeon again. However, if you go into a dungeon like this and find someone injured or dead, it will ultimately be your loss.
Here, the idea was to move flexibly.
“but.”
Yang Hee-jong said.
“There are less than 20 hours left. I admit that I am a poor hunter, but at least I have the awareness that this country is in crisis. Now, if I go into a half-cleared dungeon and check the portal, I will have to go to a new dungeon that I have clearly not cleared. Wouldn’t it be better to go around at least a few times?”
“In that case, we have to go through dungeons that require even more confirmation.”
This time, Jo Yoon-ji intervened.
“Re-checking the dungeon is a waste of time! The boss zone hasn’t arrived yet!”
“Well, of course, each individual may have different opinions on this…”
I continued speaking slowly, leaning against the cushions on the back of the sofa.
“I think there was a dungeon leading to the boss zone from the beginning. Someone made a mistake, used a trick, or did it with malicious intent. There’s no doubt about it.”
I explained in detail why I chose these seven dungeons. Everyone listened with serious faces.
“Whew.”
Yang Hee-jong stroked his head.
“In the end, you admit that this could be your elixir, right?”
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“yes.”
In fact, since the information about the Magic Tower was not disclosed, it is impossible to give complete trust to the level 5s. still.
“It’s better than hopelessly running through the red dungeon. Okay, I agree.”
Yang Hee-jong voted in favor. Jo Yoon-ji nodded.
“I think it’s worth the walk.”
Jin Jin-ra clenched her fists.
“Then let’s leave quickly! Please, driver!”
The driver nodded and grabbed the steering wheel.
“It would be great if all hunters in our country were like you… Let’s go.”
* * *
Our party went through the difficult dungeon schedule in and out of the Gyeongbuk region for 12 hours.
It was a dungeon that someone had cleared once, but it wasn’t easy. There were still a lot of monsters left, and we had to overcome terrain issues and boss zone searches on our own.
The difficulty was almost like going through a new dungeon, except for the boss, which was different from the route that the first party went through.
Because of the increased fatigue, some people ended up injured. Yang Hee-jong had a broken leg, and Jo Yun-ji had fainted due to symptoms of mana depletion and was taking a rest.
Needless to say, Jinbo, who is not yet a professional, suffered from accumulated fatigue.
While moving, he sometimes looked out the window with dead eyes, and when our eyes met, he smiled and pretended to be cheerful. I felt like I couldn’t even pretend to have attached myself to that body.
There are now 7 hours left until the labyrinth dungeon is fully opened.
While everyone was falling asleep in the car, I went out alone. I told the driver that I was going to play solo. And if I did not return after 4 hours, I was instructed to go to a safe place immediately.
‘… … Three places to go. I wish I was in one of these.’
While gulping down recovery potions, I logged onto a popular player community and posted a party recruitment post in the Gyeongbuk region.
Of course, even in this situation, going through the dungeon was no different from looking for someone to die with.
-Don’t be stubborn and just run away.
-Do you think the kids who are left now are just a bunch of idiots? This is done with a sense of crisis.
-Spend the remaining time with your family.
Even in the community where people usually make jokes, everyone was in a solemn mood as if the end of the world was approaching.
How many people will remain at the scene? Now, even certified hunters are giving up and returning to safe areas. In the worst case, I would have to prepare to go in alone.
When I was walking down the street, having given up half-heartedly, a bell suddenly rang indicating that a message had arrived.
I quickly took out my smartphone from my pocket.
[doesn’t exist?]
I received a message consisting of just two initial letters.
“……hmm.”
It felt a bit strange to receive such a short answer in the first meeting. I thought he was joking, but I patiently responded.
[This is Handong intersection in Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Did you check the gate location?]
[ok.]
[You are coming, right?]
[yep.]
A sigh comes out of my mouth.
I didn’t have much faith, but anyway, I had to go alone or with this person. I walked slowly toward the destination I had announced in advance.
As the day grew dark, the atmosphere of the city became so empty that it was even gloomy.
There were traces of people living there not long ago. But now there was no one. Apartments and shops were empty. Beyond the convenience store with its smashed windows, items are strewn about.
A ghost town where everyone has left and you are left alone.
Flyers flutter in the night wind.
I think most cities in Korea feel like this right now.
I walked down a road where no cars were passing, feeling uncharacteristically sentimental.
Then I witnessed it.
The image of a beautiful woman sleeping, leaning her back on a bench, under a flickering streetlamp.
Suddenly, it felt strange.
In the empty background of the city, where loneliness seemed to seep into her bones, the woman calmly closed her eyes as if nothing had happened.
I don’t know why, but I am fascinated by it.
I stood still, like someone who was fascinated by a master’s painting in an art museum.
Then the woman slowly opened her eyes. Hazelnut-colored eyes move and stare quietly in this direction.
“…Why are you here…”
That voice brought me back to reality.
I thought it was a voice I had heard many times before, and then I realized it too late.
It was someone I knew.
“……Hongyeon?”
She was none other than the junior who fought to the death in the quarterfinals.
“…….”
“…….”
We were momentarily speechless and couldn’t say anything. Then, at the same time, I looked at my smartphone.
[sir. You’re here, right?]
A notification bell rings on her smartphone. She tapped the screen of her smartphone twice with an awkward gesture.
[yep.]
“Was it you!”
My voice grew louder without me realizing it.
“Someone said that and it’s true. Can’t you stop using that seemingly insincere initial consonant?”
“……It’s my heart.”
She answered with a sullen expression.
“When you chat with your friends, don’t you often hear people say you’re rude?”
She crossed her arms with a pitiful expression, as if wondering what was important.
Well, what does that matter now? I took a deep breath and said.
“Were you hunting in Gyeongbuk too?”
“We started in Gangwon-do on the first day and ended up here.”
“What about the other colleagues?”
“Everyone was exhausted and left, so I came alone.”
“so do i.”
It was the first time I developed empathy with her.
As Hongyeon slowly got up from the bench, the silver armor made a clanking sound.
“We don’t have much time. Let’s go.”
“okay.”
Meeting this guy here was unexpected.
Although I am in a position to remain as her ‘wall’… … Well, the president of the association didn’t tell me not to fight with Hong Yeon, so it’s probably okay.
As she said, there wasn’t much time. Now I have to ask for help from anyone.
“…….”
“…….”
It’s 10 minutes from here to your destination.
During those 10 minutes, we had no conversation.
Feeling awkward for no reason, I glanced at her.
‘It’s fortunate that you didn’t suddenly challenge me.’
Was Hongyeon originally in this mood?
She was infinitely calm and serene.
As the president of the association said, it seems like some internal change has occurred.
As if we were keeping our mouths shut as if we were making a bet, we decided to talk about work first.
“Any questions about the dungeon?”
When I posted a party recruitment post in the community, I set the location of the dungeon to be conquered.
“I’m taking you to a dungeon that has already been re-checked. Don’t you need an explanation?”
“I can guess.”
Hongyeon opened her mouth.
“This is a dungeon that was ‘reconfirmed’ so quickly that it’s strange, right?”
“…….”
As expected, he’s smart.
No other explanation seemed necessary.
There are now 6 hours left until the full opening of the Labyrinth Dungeon.
fantasy,
