Chapter 57
Looking at the expectant gaze of the Heavenly Demon, I handed over a martial arts manual.
The manual had the words “Heavenly Demon” written on it.
The Heavenly Demon’s eyes wavered as she accepted the manual. Without hesitation, she declared her intent to enter closed-door training for some time and disappeared into her room, leaving me alone in a daze.
“Hmm… Is it something important?”
Just then, Nika and Darami returned.
“This… This is hell…”
A trembling Darami looked utterly shaken. I handed them a letter from my inventory as a reward for their hard work. They asked what it was.
“The description says you can send a letter to someone dear to you and even receive a reply.”
“…….”
“Regardless of whether they’re alive or not.”
Darami, holding the letter, quietly muttered, “Thank you,” and then headed into my younger sister’s room. That left just Nika and me.
Of course, Nika stared at me with her characteristic bright, sparkling eyes.
For our Nika, only this would do.
I spread my arms wide, and Nika tilted her head quizzically.
“I’ll give you a day pass.”
【Really? Truly?】
“Of course.”
When I told her she could do whatever she wanted for the entire day, she rubbed her face against mine.
How could she be this cute? Isn’t this reward more for me than for her?
【Growth Stones.】
Of course, she made sure to collect the Growth Stones diligently.
Who did she learn such frugality from? Is it… me?
*
*
*
The day to challenge the 30th floor had arrived.
The Heavenly Demon had left a note stating she was in closed-door training and hadn’t emerged from her room. Lillian was too exhausted to get up, having stayed up all night reading a book. Darami had vanished without a word. And my sister was puffing out her cheeks while glaring at me.
Could there be a more dysfunctional party than this? I can say with confidence—absolutely not.
“Haah… Let’s just head out ourselves.”
“Hmph!”
Still sulking. Hey, isn’t this your fault, not mine?
“Enter!”
【Entering the Tower.】
We reached the grand entrance of the Tower. As the doors opened, a message appeared.
【Would you like to enter the 30th floor?】
Accept / Decline
“Accept!”
【Entering the 30th floor.】
_________________
_________________
_________________
【30th Floor Mission: Defeat 1 Sequoia.】
【Time Limit: 24 hours.】
【Restrictions: None.】
【Equipment Restrictions: None.】
【Rules: None.】
_________________
Sequoia.
Known as the tallest tree among all, its height was absurdly massive.
When transformed into a monster, it became even larger—practically unbelievable.
“How are we supposed to deal with that?”
It was so tall my neck hurt just looking up at it. Nika stepped forward, stating she’d burn it down.
But before she could act, my sister stepped forward.
“Watch closely! I’ll show you my upgraded Holy Sword!”
She summoned her Holy Sword, and its aura had noticeably changed.
The sword, now tinged with a golden hue, released a slash that flew toward the Sequoia. With a BOOM, the giant tree trembled.
“How’s that? How’s that?!”
“Amazing.”
“Right?!”
The problem was that the wounded area healed instantly.
At the same time, a deafening roar echoed.
“Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!”
The ground trembled, and something stirred beneath the earth.
“Is this… an attack?”
As Nika grabbed my sister and me, soaring high into the sky, something burst out from the ground.
At first, it looked like tentacles. Upon closer inspection, they were roots.
“What the heck is that…?”
“Is this even meant to be beatable?”
“It’s because you’re too strong.”
“This is your fault, bro!”
The strength of the boss monsters at every 30-floor interval scaled with the climbers’ abilities.
In other words, the stronger the climbers, the stronger the Tower’s boss monsters.
It was supposedly to keep things fair, or so it said. I didn’t bother reading the finer details.
Honestly, it might be a blessing that the Heavenly Demon, Lillian, and Darami weren’t here. If they had come, the difficulty would’ve been insane.
It would’ve been utter chaos.
“Nika.”
Nika summoned her clone, which transformed into a new form.
Her entire body ignited, transforming into something colossal, a being that could only be described as the Incarnation of Fire.
Extending one hand, flames surged outward, setting the forest ablaze.
Simultaneously, the screams of various creatures echoed.
As the forest burned, the cries of its inhabitants resonated.
“Humans are… sorry…”
“What the heck, it feels like we’re the bad guys.”
“Well, we are the ones invading a world where everything was peacefully living and burning it all down.”
“That… that’s true.”
The guilt was overwhelming. Was this the intention all along?! What a terrifying monster.
“Nika.”
To end its suffering quickly, I called Nika. She nodded and increased the intensity of the flames.
Her clones multiplied, creating even larger beings as the fire spread at an accelerating pace.
At the center of it all, the largest tree, the Sequoia, began to burn. Its massive screams gradually faded.
_________________
【1 Target Eliminated.】
_________________
【Mission Clear!】
Rewards are being distributed.
【New Record Achieved for the 30th Floor!】
Registered in the Hall of Fame.
【Would you like to proceed to the next floor?】
Accept / Decline
“…Decline.”
_________________
【Exiting the Tower.】
*
*
*
At the Awakener Association of South Korea.
In the director’s office, voices were raised louder than usual.
Cha Yuri, the director of the Awakener Association and an S-rank Awakener, sat with Cha Mi-rin, an S-rank Team Leader, and an elderly gentleman.
“How does this make any sense?! A country with the world’s first Hunter to clear the 55th floor is being barred from participating in the International Hunter Festival?! Why?!”
“As you know, Hunter Han Ye-rin, who cleared the 55th floor, has declined to participate.”
“But other Hunters have cleared beyond the 40th floor!”
“The rules have changed this year. Only those who have cleared at least the 50th floor can be proposed as participants.”
“How can they suddenly enforce such a rule?! How many Hunters worldwide have cleared the 50th floor?!”
“They do exist.”
This was absurd.
The 50th floor wasn’t some random milestone—it was a feat that fewer than ten Hunters globally had achieved. Were they planning to host the International Hunter Festival with just ten participants?
“Please respect our decision.”
“Respect is earned by acting respectfully, don’t you think?”
“This discussion is over.”
The elderly man stood and left the room, leaving Cha Yuri fuming.
“What is this nonsense?!”
“Director, please calm down.”
“…When it’s just the two of us, call me ‘sister.’”
“Calm down, sister.”
Her younger sister’s words soothed her anger slightly. She got up and stared out the window, watching the elderly gentleman enter a black limousine.
Their eyes met briefly before he tipped his hat in farewell and entered the vehicle. Cha Yuri quickly looked away.
“That slippery snake. He’s definitely up to something. So, is Hunter Han Ye-rin really refusing to participate?”
“Yes. I’ve asked multiple times, but she has no intention of joining.”
“And yet, all the other Hunters who’ve cleared the 50th floor or higher from other countries are participating. Try persuading her one more time.”
“Understood.”
Cha Mi-rin left the director’s office, leaving Cha Yuri sitting on the couch, staring at the ceiling.
There had to be something more going on. South Korea had to participate, no matter what.
Both she and her sister were stuck in the 40th-floor range; reaching the 50th floor was unrealistic.
The same went for the other S-rank Hunters.
The only possibility left was Han Ji-an.
“Hall of Fame.”
_________________
【Hall of Fame】
A system that registers the fastest records for each floor, listing the top three records.
【30th Floor Rankings】
1st Place Clear Time: 2 minutes 52 seconds
2nd Place Clear Time: 4 hours 51 minutes 52 seconds
3rd Place Clear Time: 5 hours 45 minutes 42 seconds
_________________
Those times were absurd.
The Sequoia on the 30th floor wasn’t just a tricky monster.
Its insane regenerative ability rendered weak attacks useless. To defeat it, one had to unleash overwhelming power rapidly, often relying on hidden items to boost firepower.
But those times? They clearly didn’t involve any items—just sheer overwhelming strength.
Clearing the 50th floor within a month sounded impossible, but if it were Han Ji-an… maybe.
Standing up, Cha Yuri walked over to her desk and pressed a call button. Shortly after, her secretary entered.
“You called for me, Director?”
“Deliver this for me, please.”
“Understood.”
She handed over a small note to her secretary.
One way or another, it wouldn’t hurt to have an extra safeguard.
—
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