Chapter 68
Walking out of the room, leaving the screams of the three women behind, Tsurumiya Yui greeted me with a bright smile.
“Is something wrong?”
“They needed some education.”
“Education?”
Tilting her head in curiosity, she smiled as I suggested we eat together if she hadn’t already. She nodded enthusiastically.
“Sure!”
“Then let’s go.”
While heading to the dining hall with her, we talked about the upcoming International Hunter Festival. Apparently, more hunters than I expected were participating.
Originally, only hunters who had cleared the 50th floor and above could join, but since there were no restrictions on companions, hunters brought their teams along, just like me.
“But aren’t there only about ten hunters worldwide who’ve cleared the 50th floor?”
“That’s right. The 50th floor is a massive wall. But I’ve heard that if you manage to get past it, the floors known as the ‘Training Levels’ make you much stronger.”
“True. You do get some training.”
It’s more like being forcefully trained by the Barbarian Tribe, though.
“But did you really skip the training, Han Ji-an?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I was curious since you achieved the record without taking the training.”
“I did take it.”
“…You did?”
I realized there was a massive misunderstanding in our conversation.
Wait, I was trained by the Barbarian Tribe, wasn’t I?
“Um… have you seen the other hunters’ records?”
“Records? You mean the Hall of Fame?”
“Yes, take a look.”
“Just a second.”
What is she talking about?
The rankings displayed as soon as I opened the Hall of Fame.
【Hall of Fame】
【53rd Floor Ranking: 1st Place Clear Time – 4 hours 55 minutes】
【53rd Floor Ranking: 2nd Place Clear Time – 6 days 23 hours】
【53rd Floor Ranking: 3rd Place Clear Time – 7 days 21 hours】
“Uh… why are these records like this?”
“The longer you endure, the more you maximize your growth.”
“….”
So other hunters avoided the Barbarians’ attacks for days to train?
“For instance, wasn’t the 52nd floor about dodging Barbarian attacks? They say if you improve your relationship with the Barbarians, they help out a lot—providing breaks and even standing guard while you sleep.”
“….”
Did I provoke them too much? They swung axes at me on sight….
“It’s the same for other floors. Didn’t you know?”
“….”
I cleared the 51st and 52nd floors in hours, while 2nd and 3rd place lasted a week or more.
“Still, don’t let it get to you! There’s always the 54th floor!”
“Is the 54th floor also training?”
“Well… not sure? Only Han Ye-rin has cleared it, so you might want to ask her.”
I decided to check the Hall of Fame again.
【Hall of Fame】
【54th Floor Ranking: 1st Place Clear Time – 2 days 21 hours】
【54th Floor Ranking: 2nd Place Clear Time – N/A】
【54th Floor Ranking: 3rd Place Clear Time – N/A】
“Looks like it took two days to clear.”
“Then it doesn’t seem like training. Maybe it’s an evaluation after training? Like battling the Barbarian Tribe or something.”
“…That makes sense.”
I’ll find out tomorrow, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
When we entered the dining hall, it had transformed into a proper restaurant compared to the morning. As soon as we sat, they handed us menus.
The prices were outrageous.
A single steak was $200.
And that was à la carte.
The basic A-course meal was $800. How much is that in total?
Opening the currency converter, I found it was well over a million won.
The prices were absurd.
“Shall we go for the A-course? Or maybe the B-course looks good too.”
The B-course was $1,200.
“I’ll go with the A-course.”
“Alright! I’ll order then.”
She expertly summoned a waiter and placed the order with ease.
Her English was impressive too.
“You’re really good at English.”
“No matter how much you compliment me, all I can offer in return is my smile.”
She smiled brightly, just as Nika flew into my arms.
“Did the education go well?”
【Yes!】
She explained that my sister, Lillian, and the Heavenly Demon had collapsed in the room and couldn’t join us. But where was Darami?
“Where’s Darami?”
【Handling something!】
Poor Darami got caught in a 3+1 situation? I’ll have to bring her some acorns later.
*
*
*
【Would you like to enter the 54th Floor?】
Accept / Decline
“Accept!”
【Entering the 54th Floor.】
【You are entering the domain of the ‘Barbarian Tribe,’ rulers of Floors 51 to 54.】
───────────────
【54th Floor Mission: Pass the Trial of the Barbarian Tribe!】
【Time Limit: None.】
【Conditions: None.】
【Restricted Equipment: None.】
【Restricted Rules: None.】
───────────────
A radiant light enveloped me as I stepped into the land of the Barbarian Tribe.
When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by countless Barbarians holding their weapons, waiting for me.
“Welcome, warrior.”
“This is the final step, warrior.”
“Thank you for your efforts thus far.”
The atmosphere seemed warm and encouraging, but I quickly realized that wasn’t the case.
“Warrior, face the final trial!”
“Surpass our Barbarian Tribe and climb higher!”
“If you cannot, do not dream of advancing further!”
With those words, a message appeared before me.
【The Trial of the Barbarian Tribe begins.】
Defeat all Barbarians.
(If any Barbarians die, the Barbarian Tribe will turn hostile.)
So, I must defeat them without killing.
Subduing them is far harder than outright killing.
Still, killing my mentors was out of the question, so this was preferable.
“Prepare yourself, warrior!”
At those words, the Barbarians charged at me.
I panicked and instinctively made a mistake.
“Nika!”
【Yes!】
With a swing of her giant arm, Nika sent countless Barbarians flying.
Fortunately, there were no casualties.
It seemed Nika adjusted her strength, having noticed the floor’s clear conditions.
“Warrior! How cowardly to borrow another’s strength!”
“Warrior, you bring shame to our Barbarian Tribe!”
“You must overcome this with your own strength to be a true warrior!”
Though they protested while rising from the ground, their words held no sway over me.
After all, I wasn’t a warrior—I was a summoner.
“I don’t listen to those weaker than me!”
Instead of getting angry, the Barbarians seemed overjoyed.
“Such arrogance! You truly embody a Barbarian warrior!”
“Well done! That’s exactly how a warrior should be! Unwavering in any situation!”
“You’ve learned well, warrior!”
They truly were strange people.
With a smirk, I pointed at them with my finger.
“Nika, educate them.”
【Education!】
Nika’s towering form turned the Barbarians pale, but that wasn’t my problem.
After all the suffering I’d endured, this was my turn to strike back!
Under Nika’s “education,” even the remaining Barbarians were soon embracing the ground.
Every last one of them.
【Mission Clear!】
Rewards are being distributed.
【54th Floor Record Broken!】
Your name has been entered into the Hall of Fame.
【Would you like to advance to the next floor?】
Accept / Decline
I owed my mentors a farewell.
“Thank you for everything.”
My mentors in spirit.
To my surprise, every Barbarian raised their hands in farewell, using the last of their strength.
With a small smile, I hit “Decline.”
A radiant light surrounded me as I returned to the hotel room.
But I felt like I’d forgotten something….
__
No sooner had I cleared the 54th Floor than my phone rang.
It was Han Ye-rin, her voice unusually excited, demanding to meet immediately.
At the hotel café, I found her waiting, looking more anxious than ever.
“Did you really just clear the 54th Floor?!”
“Yes.”
“Why?!”
“Huh?”
When I asked what she meant, she brought up whether I’d read her text. I admitted I hadn’t, and she looked exasperated.
“I was going to tell you in person, but I had other commitments, so I left you a message.”
She urged me to check my messages.
Opening them, I found an absurdly long text.
[Information about the 54th Floor.]
The 54th Floor allows you to face the Barbarian Tribe’s final trial. In one-on-one tournament battles, you’re given breaks between rounds, during which….
Ah, I didn’t read it.
“Well, there’s no undoing what’s done, but I can tell you about the 55th Floor in advance.”
“Please do.”
“For free?”
“Huh?”
Didn’t she just say she’d tell me?
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