The Hunter Returns Chapter 5

005 – 2nd floor (1)

Baekja managed the distorted expression.

Cheeky little kid.

The human who dared to challenge the subject of the tutorial successor. I would like to trample him with my feet, but I cannot. The constellation can intervene indirectly with the successors, but it cannot intervene directly. If I do something like that, the chicken manager will come running at me like it did before.

“You’re really arrogant just because you stepped on a few people around you.”

I know this guy killed another heir in the alley.

That was a neat trick. It gave me near-perfect horror. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Survival of the fittest. Only the strong will climb to the top. That’s because this is the Tower of Heaven.

In short, the wrong side is the weak side.

“Let’s see when that handsome face will be ruined.”

Baekja, who had brought the cheese to her mouth, was looking at Kim Yun-do, who had stopped in front of the sword labyrinth.

*&*

Kim Yun-do was recalling a conversation he had with King Chi-wan of the Swordsmanship in the past.

“… The most impressive place in the tutorial area? I see. If it were me, I would choose the Sword Labyrinth.”

“The Labyrinth of Swords? If you’re talking about the Labyrinth, I think you’re talking about the second floor.”

“Yes. It was a harsh place for the Successors who had just passed the first floor. At that point, there were probably only about 10% of Successors who could pass through the Sword Labyrinth.”

“It’s not even half the number of other mazes… . May I ask why?”

“It’s simple. The successors at that point still don’t know the reality that’s right in front of them. They understand it in their heads, but their bodies can’t accept it.”

As soon as he entered the Sword Labyrinth, Kim Yun-do realized why Geomseong had said that.

A small passageway that could barely accommodate two adult males.

The labyrinth was so narrow that it was difficult to move. An arrow had fallen at his feet. He stepped on the ground he had just stepped on.

ping!

The trap at the end of the labyrinth was triggered.

It was a trap he had already seen once. Kim Yun-do deflected the flying arrow with his sword. His hand trembled with a thud. The impact on his hand was quite heavy. He could have taken it, but even if he was just an inch late, the arrow would leave a wound on his body. If this continued, he would inevitably lose time.

The shallow part that this trap targets is not a fatal area like the head or neck.

The first arrow that flew was the arm.

This time, the arrow that flew in was aimed at the leg.

That’s no coincidence.

The purpose of this trap is not to kill the Successor.

“If you can proceed slowly, you will have enough time to pass through the labyrinth. The wounds will just pile up. It is not that you cannot move. However, it is impossible for the Successors who first entered the tower. Ironically, it is the traps that do not aim for life that are tying up your feet.”

“So that’s what the story was about.”

The purpose is to instill fear in the successor.

It’s a trial that fits that rat’s personality perfectly.

Kim Yun-do took a step forward.

ping!

The arrow collided with the sword and fell to the ground. This time, the arrow was aimed at the left shoulder.

One step at a time.

There is only one flying arrow.

Next two steps.

There are two flying arrows.

That’s perfect.

You can adjust the level of training depending on the steps you take.

There is no better place to become familiar with your body than this sword labyrinth.

Next three steps.

There are three flying arrows.

It’s a bit burdensome.

Is three arrows all you can handle with your current strength? It’s important to know your limits.

This time, let’s mix up the movements.

Let’s start with the three who felt burdened a little while ago.

It’s simple. Block one, dodge two.

next.

Four arrows.

No problem. An ordinary player might not know. For Kim Yun-do, this kind of width is like a playground. He steps on the wall and makes a path in an instant. His movements are more like those of a beast than a human. He doesn’t even need to react to the flying arrows. However, Kim Yun-do soon gave up on climbing the wall.

The trap only reacts to the ground.

If it falls from the ground, the arrow doesn’t fly, so it’s meaningless.

It seems that the maximum number of arrows that the trap can activate is five.

No matter how much you increase your speed, the number of arrows flying will not increase.

As Kim Yun-do reached the end of the passage, the trap disappeared into the wall.

There were no injuries. It wasn’t that long of a distance to begin with.

It must be a kind of initiation ceremony for the successor who first enters the labyrinth.

As the passage ended, the space became wider.

You can see bread and drinking water that can be used to fill your stomach. If you want, you can sleep in this space. It’s like a room of sorts. You check your body condition. You’re tired, but you can go on. In fact, it’s better now that your body is slightly heated. Let’s loosen up a little more before this heat goes away.

A thorn that appears as the ground collapses.

A stone rolling behind.

A spear that cannot be stopped except by avoiding it.

You can’t catch Kim Yun-do with this kind of trap.

He was moving forward without hesitation, but he stopped when he saw a wooden doll blocking the passage.

It looks like it’s already the last one.

He sat down and took out the chocolate bar and water he had brought from the first floor. After finishing his meal quickly, he took out the whetstone and sharpened his sword. It was the only weapon he had at the moment. He needed to take care of it until the end of the labyrinth.

Growth is important, but rest is also necessary.

It had been more than a day since he returned here. It just didn’t show up on his stats. The mental fatigue was slowly eating away at him. He lay down on the cold ground and closed his eyes.

Soon, Sumaru came upon him.

*&*

Day 2.

Kim Yun-do opened his eyes and got up from his seat.

He moved his body lightly. Arms, legs. Neck, shoulders. He relaxed his stiff body and exhaled deeply. There was nothing wrong with his body. Kim Yun-do, who had moistened his dry throat with water, quietly stared at the wooden doll in front of him.

“The last part of the Sword Labyrinth is guarded by a wooden doll. If you pass through it, the labyrinth will end.”

“Pass? So there’s no reason to knock it down.”

“Yes, but our goal isn’t just to get through.”

“The Lord of the Tower. Was it Dantalian?”

Librarian Dantalian, a colleague who was researching the Tower of Heaven.

The man, a member of the Great Library, one of the special clans, knew many stories that the ordinary Successors did not know.

The Lord of the Tower. His story first appears in this labyrinth.

As you climb the tower, relics associated with it begin to appear throughout the field.

“Yes. Brother Yundo! This is the Lord of this Tower. He was active before the Sky Tower was built. There are very few related documents, so we don’t know the details, but if my guess is correct, I think he is one of the strong candidates for the creator of this Sky Tower.

 “The twelve constellations in charge of each section. The repeated trials in the tower. The one who created all of this.”

Dantalian, holding a chocolate bar in one hand, said.

“Are you saying that the Lord of the Tower is the root of all evil?”

“Well, that’s not necessarily true. It’s certainly unforgivable that we were called into the tower, but if there were no Sky Tower, humanity would have been wiped out long ago.

 Well, that’s okay. That’s not what I’m trying to say. Even within the Tower, there are no identical items of the “Lord” item, which is classified as a special grade. There is literally only one. They all have abilities that match their rarity.

 And if my guess is correct, I think the first place you can get the monarch item is the second floor of the labyrinth.」

Kim Yun-do came out of the room.

A light came into the eyes of the wooden doll that had been standing still as if dead.

“Successor detected.”

“Let’s go and take a look.”

The hunter let out a long breath and grabbed his sword.

“According to the will of the great lord, the test begins.”

The wooden doll has a total of four arms.

Considering the narrow passage, it is armed with a sword and a short spear. If you keep your distance, the short spear will keep you in check, and if you close the distance, the sword will fly. It is a movement that thoroughly eliminates the enemy who approaches you. The hunter who has been attacked by the wooden doll several times has noticed that its movements are monotonous.

A sort of tutorial for beginners. It gets even stranger when a strong enemy appears.

The guy’s sword won’t move unless you get too close.

Only single spears will react to the successor who keeps his distance. This guy is not a living enemy. If you take advantage of this, even a beginner can easily get through him. All you have to do is avoid the single spears and pass. The person who created the labyrinth probably had that in mind from the beginning.

But the hunter’s goal is not passage.

Destroying a wooden doll.

There is no need to go in all at once. Let’s slowly cut him down. If you keep your distance, only single spears will come. Let’s use that to our advantage. The hunter approached the wooden doll. Two single spears rushed in. The single spears and the sword did not interlock.

The target is the doll’s arm holding the spear. For now, start from the left.

One hit. Only a scar remains, but the arm is intact. Two hits. Three hits. Four hits. The left arm is broken off with the single spear. There are three arms left. Even though one arm is broken, the arm holding the sword does not move. After breaking the right arm holding the single spear, the speed increases.

All that’s left are two arms.

The speed of the wooden doll cannot keep up with the hunter’s movements.

It didn’t take long for the guy’s arms to all be cut off.

Not even realizing that his entire arm was broken, the creature swung his severed arm at the hunter who had approached him. The hunter stabbed him in the chest with his sword.

The light in the eye blinked slowly, and then the light went out.

“Fatal… defect detected. Operation, ceased.”

Inside the broken wooden doll, a black, shiny stone was visible.

“Labyrinth Ore (power source).

 – The power source of the doll that guards the Sword Labyrinth. The magic stone that once held a glorious light is now nothing more than a dark ore. The doll is forever waiting for its master who never returns.

Kim Yun-do, who had packed the labyrinth ore into his pocket, went to the end of the labyrinth.

As I entered the room filled with bright light, a door floated before me.

“Congratulations! You’ve cleared the Sword Labyrinth.”

“A certain reward will be given to the successor who clears the labyrinth.”

“Bonus stat: 10.”

It’s a similar place to where we first started.

Another thing is that, in addition to the entrance to the labyrinth, there is now an exit to the outside. This time, it is not a sword-woven entrance. It is a flame-blazing entrance. Above it is a white porcelain with a sinister expression. What he is looking at is not Kim Yun-do. He is looking at the wooden doll he destroyed.

“This is truly amazing. To think that you could break through the Sword Labyrinth in two days. And on top of that, you even broke the doll? That wasn’t made to be broken, was it?”

“I thought it was definitely made to be destroyed. If it wasn’t necessary, it would have been better if you had told me from the beginning. Wasn’t it a waste of time?”

In response to Kim Yun-do’s question, Baekja fiddled with the hair on his mouth.

“Is there really a reason for me to tell you? You’re doing well on your own. Well, at this rate, I might actually be able to finish the labyrinth within the time frame I promised you. Man, this is scary.”

Contrary to his words, the guy’s face was filled with laughter.

“This is my first time doing something like this, so I don’t have any rewards in mind. I guess I’ll have to think about it a bit during the remaining time. Of course, the other labyrinths aren’t as easy as the Sword Labyrinth. The last labyrinth in particular won’t be easy.”

“I see. I’m looking forward to that.”

Baekja stared blankly at Kim Yun-do, who gave her a blunt answer.

Cheeky. He’s a cheeky little brat who’s way too cocky.

An irregular who has just entered the top, but is breaking through the tutorial at an unbelievable speed. The growth of his stats is within the expected range, but his spirit is something else. I saw Kim Yun-do passing through the sword labyrinth. The guy repeated the courageous decision of giving flesh and cutting bones several times.

This is an action that a normal person would never take. Even if you think about it, your body cannot keep up.

Of course, this is a move that is entirely possible for a successor who has been rolling around at the top for several years.

But this guy is a successor who just entered the tower. I can’t understand it at all. The successor named Kim Yun-do was like a finished gem. It was as if the successor who conquered the tower came back due to some kind of bug.

Bug?

Are you a bug user?

Baekja, who was looking at Kim Yun-do, shook her head.

No, there’s no need to rush into it.

If the guy is really using a bug, he’ll show his tail soon. It’s too early to make a judgment. He must be a human who heard the story from outside.

Quite some time has passed since the Tower of Heaven appeared.

Simple information from the tutorial was leaked out.

Because of this, there were some successors who stood out even among those who were occasionally chosen by the top.

The same goes for Kim Yun-do.

A human raised for the Tower of Heaven.

Perhaps he is a successor raised by an organized force.

“The next labyrinth is the Fire Labyrinth. Are you ready to challenge it? If you’re tired, you can rest here.”

“No. I have to keep my promise with you. I’ll challenge you right away.”

“Okay. I won’t stop you. You have to take full responsibility for your choices.”

Kim Yun-do walked towards the entrance of the labyrinth where flames were woven.

Baekja was quietly staring at the back of his head.

*&*

The moment he entered the labyrinth, Kim Yun-do felt the surroundings becoming hot.

Unlike the overall dry and dull labyrinth of the sword, this was a passage filled with bright lights. Red flames shot up from between the walls. The ground was the same. The floor, where there was no foothold, was filled with boiling flames.

It’s a familiar sight.

When I first fell here, it was really horrible.

Even in Section 1, it is a place that remains impressive in Kim Yun-do’s memory.

A passage with no end in sight. The heat rising with every step. As your body dries out, your speed gradually slows down, and if you lose consciousness for a moment, you fall into the flames. It is a test that puts pressure on your entire body and mind. A space where no one is present. I just walk through a passage that has no end.

At first, it’s okay.

The distance between the passages is short, and there are rooms where you can rest. There is water to quench your thirst and food in the rooms that are like a kind of safe zone. However, that is only the beginning. The further you go into the labyrinth, the further away you are from the rooms where you can rest.

“Are we here already? This is worth doing.” I thought. 

It doesn’t take long for the question to change to “Is it still far? When on earth will it end?”

It’s hard to sleep in a labyrinth where everything is on fire.

It was truly hellish.

Kim Yun-do, who invested all of the stats he received into stamina, raised his head.

I was tired of holding back.

Half a day at most. That should be enough to finish this labyrinth.

The heat was a little annoying, but I didn’t need to worry about it now that my stamina had greatly increased.

What I’m chewing on are memories with my colleagues.

Because in that small shop that was considered a hideout even within the tower, many memories remained.

Kim Yun-do began to walk lightly, as if he were going out for a walk.