Episode 24: Smell
I was trapped in the tower.
“Heh heh. Oh heh heh heh.”
I laughed in vain.
The top of the tower is on the 100th floor.
The highest level currently explored by mankind is the 65th floor, and the difficulty level after the 60th floor is said to be on a different level than before.
I was confident until I entered the tower.
At around 60 floors, it’s just over half of the entire tower.
I thought that if I could become an S-class hunter just by doing that, it would be worth it.
now?
“The tutorial looks like this too?”
I realized firsthand that my confidence at that time was arrogance.
I didn’t know it would be this difficult.
How long will it take to get to the 100th floor?
I don’t think 1 or 2 years will be enough.
It took Kim Han-seong, an S-class hunter who cleared up to the 61st floor, 1 year and 8 months to return from the tower.
Although this is quite a long time, it is said that time passes more quickly on the tower than outside.
[Tip. Worried about the outside world? Don’t worry. Time passes twice as fast inside the tower as it does outside!]
It is certain when I see the tip message that was just generated.
If we do a simple calculation with this.
“You said you spent three years and four months in the tower.”
3 years and 4 months to the 61st floor.
On average, it went up about 1.5 floors per month.
If you climb to the 100th floor at the same speed, it will take approximately 66 months, or about 5 and a half years.
“They say it’ll take five and a half years, but in reality it’ll take longer.”
Because the difficulty level gets harder as you go up.
Should I estimate it to be around 8 or 9 years? Or maybe 10 years?
It might have taken even longer than that.
It’s been a long time.
Even more so if it is not the modern world, but a tower full of monsters and villains.
A tower that must always be tense.
A place where there is not even an iota of safety.
There is still time for people to be persecuted and have nervous breakdowns.
Didn’t you recall a similar tip message from before?
People who stay on top for a long time are more likely to go crazy.
Then me too… … .
-Clap! Clap!
I slapped my cheek.
Come to your senses. There’s no point in guessing like this.
Even if you feel discouraged, reality won’t change.
And I’m not the only one trapped in the tower.
“Eww!”
Isn’t there also Deokchun here, pounding the bed and sobbing?
I read somewhere that interacting with a pet can reduce mental stress.
It is said that depression can also be prevented.
Maybe this is why he gave me the pet as a reward.
“Deokchun, let’s do our best!”
I tried to hold out my hand with a bright face.
-Cheolpuk
Deokchun hit my cheek with his tongue.
A tongue that stickily pulls at the ball and falls off.
Why does this guy keep hitting me in the face?
I wiped my cheek with my hands.
It’s a bit awkward, but let’s just move on.
Wouldn’t this kid be feeling wronged too? He just got a bad owner.
Actually, I feel the most wronged.
You bastard, is this why I told you to pack those things?
“But the objective situation isn’t bad.”
Only two S-class powers.
There’s a frog stronger than me.
I got more points than others and even got a growth title.
Plus infinite coins.
Anyway, the challenge itself can be done as many times as you want.
“Even an idiot can break it if he tries a few hundred times.”
Fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a penalty for death, as there is no separate explanation.
Well, not being able to go outside is already a huge penalty, but if there are other side effects, it’s not balanced.
“There are still many things hidden in the tower.”
The only quest I got on the first floor was like that, and the no-hit clear reward I got on the third floor was like that.
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There are many other ways for me to become stronger, so if I gradually build up my specs, it’s not like I can’t do it.
“Right, Deokchun?”
“Yeah.”
Deokchun nodded, still gloomy but slightly cheering up.
What can I do? If I can’t go out, she can’t go out either.
We have to fight even if it means forcing ourselves to do so.
hmm?
“But why do you want to go out? You’ve never been outside before.”
Wasn’t that the kid who lived in the tower?
“On the track?”
In response to my question, Deokchun turns his head as if he heard something insignificant.
It’s as if he’s asking you if you would want to be here.
Yeah, I would want to escape too.
If you can’t live in your hometown or your hometown, then leave.
Okay, this was my mistake.
“Would you like to eat a fly? They even sell bugs in store windows.”
“Ugh.”
I was thinking of buying him an insect-type monster corpse to cheer him up, but judging from his reaction, he didn’t seem to like it.
Then what does this thing eat? Since it’s a spirit, does it not eat normal food?
I don’t know.
I’ll give you some things later.
I ate Baekhwan too, so why can’t I eat other things?
“Let’s go down first.”
My mind was blown.
The sugar needs to be replenished.
I’m a little hungry too.
It was clearly stated that a meal would be prepared for you when you entered the inn.
Now, even one point is wasted. I have to eat those things well.
Koreans are obsessed with rice.
Eat well and stay strong.
Because I still have a lot to do.
* * *
6th floor safe zone.
While Soo-hyeon was eating at the inn, the square was still bustling.
There were also groups of people waiting for guild members who might come up at any time, and there were also people who had just finished the tutorial coming in steadily.
Even so, it was true that there were more people than usual.
“Oh, you’re really strict. I checked with the guild and everything.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been talking too much upstairs. Don’t you know my position?”
The reason was simple.
Because the security checks were strengthened to catch Petit Gongdu.
But there was no way he could be caught.
Because Jo Hyun-soo, the petit gongduin, had already left.
“What a headache.”
A man wearing the Sangun Guild mark crossed his legs and scrunched up his face.
Oh Ji-hyeok. The manager in charge of the 6th floor.
His face was filled with annoyance.
-Squeak
He sat down on a large sofa that seemed completely out of place in the Busan plaza and leaned back comfortably.
He looked out of place, leisurely observing people while holding a drink in one hand, but no one questioned him.
Rather, the area became deserted as people avoided him.
A few newbies wandered around, not knowing English, but that only lasted for a while.
[Oh Ji-hyeok – Murderer]
He saw the message floating above his head and quickly left the place.
A processing facility exists in each safe zone.
They were beings planted by large guilds to keep order.
They had the role of dealing with criminals who committed crimes in safe zones or mediating disputes.
That’s all that’s known to the public.
“Petit Gongdura. If I catch you, I’ll tear you to pieces.”
The processor was also a cleaner who did all kinds of dirty work in the shade under the guild’s orders.
The influence in the management layer was also strong.
There were many benefits, but they weren’t free.
Because the workload was also considerable.
Especially in a situation like this where the guild is paying keen attention.
“Ahem?”
Oh Ji-hyeok furrowed his brows.
What he is holding in his hand is a report submitted by guild members.
It contained the details of the new hunters summoned to the square.
“That’s strange.”
Oh Ji-hyeok, who was turning the ballpoint pen, narrowed his eyes.
The order to strengthen control was given just five hours ago.
As of yet, no ordinary person without affiliation has come up.
In fact, it was impossible to get to this point without special training or Baek-Hwan’s help.
But just one person.
“Kim Jeong-su?”
It was written that there was an entity of unknown affiliation.
A man who only has a record of receiving a Baek-Hwan from a member of the Cheongryong Guild.
I almost passed it by without noticing.
The Blue Dragon Guild isn’t a place to be taken lightly. They even mentioned the names of their guild members directly.
However, no proper affiliation was revealed.
“Look at this guy?”
Oh Ji-hyeok’s eyes stand out.
It smelled.
How dare you use such clever tricks to disguise your identity.
Of course, it might not have been a big deal.
There were a lot of people, and controlling them perfectly seemed next to impossible, even to him.
Even though it was mentioned above, there were definitely people who took it lightly.
The man named Kim Jeong-su may also have acted without any special intention.
but.
“This kid didn’t do his job properly.”
Oh Ji-hyeok wasn’t the kind of person who would let something like that go.
-Tink!
He threw the cup he was holding on the floor.
The guild members flinch.
“Bring the kid who wrote report number 4.”
“All right!”
As he stands up from the sofa and shouts, one of the guild members standing behind him disappears somewhere.
And then a little later.
A man who was diligently writing down a list approached.
“Father, did you call?”
“Yeah. Just stand there.”
-Snap!
“Khaaaaak!”
He kicked me in the shin straight away.
A bridge bent at an impossible angle.
A guild member who had his leg broken by a single blow screamed.
While everyone else flinches, only Oh Ji-hyeok moves calmly.
“Do you know what you did wrong?”
-Sudden
He crouched down and lifted the guild member up by his hair.
A guild member trembles in fear while his face is crumpled in pain.
Oh Ji-hyeok continued talking, as if he wasn’t expecting an answer.
Hitting the guild member’s head on the floor.
-thud!
“First, you carried out the mission I gave you sloppily.”
-thud!
“Second. Because of that, unidentified people came out to the square.”
-thud!
“Third. We can’t tell where the guy went.”
The guild member’s forehead was torn and the floor turned red. The guild member’s eyes became blurry, as if he had a concussion, but Oh Ji-hyeok’s momentum did not diminish.
Should I dry it?
The guild members looked at each other, but no one stepped forward.
Because it was obvious that the same thing would happen if I tried.
“Ugh. Eww!”
The guild member whose head was hit groaned in pain, but Oh Ji-hyeok’s expression did not change.
Just looking down at him with a cold face.
-Kuduk
Oh Ji-hyeok lifted up the guild member who was clutching his head.
A man who sounds so light even though he is a healthy adult.
He rolled his eyes hastily.
To check the state of mind of Oh Ji-hyeok, who is holding on to himself.
“Ah, ugh.”
My mouth, which was about to make an excuse, is now shut.
There was no mercy on the face of Oh Ji-hyeok that he encountered.
Eyes sparkling with life.
An atmosphere that oppresses people.
A prayer that overpowers everything.
The obvious gap froze him.
What will become of me?
There was never any choice to rebel from the beginning.
I just hope this moment passes quickly.
-Swoosh
Fortunately, that wish came true.
Oh Ji-hyeok shook his hands from the guild member’s hair.
He didn’t even look at me, as if his work was over.
He spoke softly.
“There’s only one reason you’re still alive. It’s because you gave me a hint to find him. Be thankful for that.”
“Go, thank you!”
When a guild member falls to the floor and shouts thank you over and over again.
Oh Ji-hyeok got up from his seat.
A sight that made all those standing around him not dare to raise their heads.
Oh Ji-hyeok filed away the report as if nothing had happened.
Deep down, I didn’t like the dirty, blood-stained report.
Tsk. Oh Ji-hyeok clicked his tongue and started giving instructions.
“As of now, the entire 6th floor portal has been closed. We are looking for someone named Kim Jeong-su. Initiate.”
“practice!”
Guild members running naked to the portal.
Oh Ji-hyeok smiled as he looked at them.
It seemed like I might be able to catch Petit Gongdu more easily than I thought.
