Not in so foreign country, but right here in South Korea, a dinsional nest called the [Tower of a Hundred People] has suddenly appeared.
The news shocked Jung Haseong to his core. He imdiately canceled their grocery shopping plans for dinner, buying ti instead to confirm the facts and exchange critical information.
***
Sejong Special Self-Governing City, Republic of Korea. A man dressed in light-toned, comfortable clothes stepped out of the car. Standing beside him was another man, wearing black leather gloves.
'In this weather?'
At first glance, the outfit seed a bit too warm for the weather, but since the one wearing it was a hunter with such a cool, detached aura, the sense of mismatch naturally faded the longer you looked.
'Not a single drop of sweat. Is he naturally a bit cold, or could it be an unrevealed awakened ability, perhaps?'
At the scene in Sejong, there were several Hunter Association officials whose faces were unfamiliar, along with an A-rank awakener possessing a [Beef Up] buff skill.
"Did Hunter Kang Changho not see the summon?"
Of course, even amidst such a tight security system, a certain awakened one didn't fail to et expectations.
"Well... I'm not even sure if he's in the dungeon right now or not."
Kang Changho. The awakened with a history of assault had recently been tackling dungeons across various regions, allegedly in pursuit of settlents. At first, it seed like he was almost too diligent in his efforts... but then—
At so point, he started relying on an A-rank hunter team brought in from abroad to clear dungeons on his behalf. In other words, he engaged in "auto-hunting" by just having his na listed as the party leader. Because of this, Kang Changho himself was likely staying outside, and as expected, he didn't check the association's ssages.
「Hunter Jung Haseong.」
other words, he engaged in “auto-hunting” by just having his na listed as the party leader. Because of this, Kang Changho himself was likely staying outside, and as expected, he didn't check the association's ssages.
「Hunter Jung Haseong.
The agreent we signed doesn't say I have to personally go into the dungeons. It just says I need to clear a minimum number of them each month.
So technically, I haven't broken any promises, right?」
Even just recalling it again feels like the kind of nonsense that would only give him more gray hairs.
“Hey, Hunter Jung. Are you okay? Your face looks pale for so reason.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
But in the end, Jung Haseong turned a blind eye to the man’s actions. It was simply because he couldn’t be bothered. He hadn’t expected Kang Changho to fulfill his duties sincerely in the first place, and when he thought about it, just the fact that the guy was spending money to clear dungeons at all was already sothing to be grateful for.
But if he was going to make the effort anyway, couldn’t he have shown up for a dungeon like this too?
“Hunter Kim Giryeo...”
Swish..
Jung Haseong glanced up at the massive gate before him. Then, he squeezed his eyes shut and spoke.
“I’m sorry, but... could you perhaps intimidate Hunter Kang Changho by force and persuade him to join the raid?”
The man in black gloves standing beside him clamped his mouth shut, looking vaguely displeased—like a frog that had eaten the wrong al.
“Right....... Of course, soone as upstanding as you would never resort to such violent ans. I know that. I do. But still...”
The blonde hunter was still silent.
“Haa...”
South Korea’s undisputed number one hunter quietly interpreted his colleague’s silence as a sign of tact—and suppressed his frustration on his own.
Anyway, assuming the Kang Changho matter is more or less overlooked for now, a rather exhausting incident has, in a
South Korea’s undisputed number one hunter quietly interpreted his colleague’s silence as a sign of tact—and suppressed his frustration on his own.
Anyway, assuming the Kang Changho matter is more or less overlooked for now, a rather exhausting incident has, in any case, arrived. That’s because the dungeon before us was famously known for being highly challenging.
“Excuse .”
At that mont, a reinforcent-type awakened in Sejong City spoke up.
“Hello, Hunter Jung! So, I was dispatched right after receiving the official notice, but... when I checked the Pixy database, nothing much ca up.”
“Yes?”
“It seems like a pretty dangerous dungeon, but what exactly is the [Tower of a Hundred People] that two S-ranks have co?”
The saying “Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred tis” applies even in this industry. The administrative staff at the Association worked tirelessly day and night to provide Hunters with the best possible information—more precisely, they focused heavily on data collection. But no matter how hard they worked, it was still difficult to outmatch the field agents actually out there running through these otherworldly realms.
“Don’t tell ... if this thing blows up, will Sejong City be dood?”
ely, they focused heavily on data collection. But no matter how hard they worked, it was still difficult to outmatch the field agents actually out there running through these otherworldly realms.
“Don’t tell ... if this thing blows up, will Sejong City be dood?”
Perhaps the one who could explain this situation best would be the living legend whose firsthand experience data numbers in the thousands.
At the Sejong resident’s question, both n turned their heads at the sa ti. The A-rank awakened flinched in response.
“Well.”
Contrary to the resident’s concern, what followed was nothing more than the kind, gentle tone of the nation’s beloved hero—with the added bonus of a pleasant voice.
“First of all, since this dungeon has appeared in South Korea for the first ti, it seems that actual case examples haven’t been properly conveyed.”
“Aah, yes.”
“Therefore, allow to explain. The [Tower of a Hundred People] is...”
Aah, yes.
“Therefore, allow to explain. The [Tower of a Hundred People] is...”
Soon, Haseong spoke.
“It starts with the na, which cos from the idea that it would take a hundred people to clear this dungeon.”
Sothing was off from the start.
“Simply put, it ans the dungeon is that difficult.”
“Heuk.”
“I first encountered this type of dungeon, called the Tower of a Hundred People, in Singapore. Hmm... According to my research, it’s supposedly a term that originated from so ga...”
“From what ga?”
“If you’re soone who enjoys gaming, you might understand this easily. This particular Special Blue Gate can be summarized in one phrase: its interior is a ‘Boss Rush’ format.”
If you’re soone who enjoys gaming, you might understand this easily. This particular Special Blue Gate can be summarized in one phrase: its interior is a ‘Boss Rush’ format.
Aha! Boss rush!
As soon as those words were spoken, a few young people on site let out murmurs of understanding. Of course, the alien—who couldn’t possibly know what they were talking about—restlessly looked toward Haseong, and upon eting the man’s reaction, Jung Haseong suddenly tensed up. Korea’s number one-ranked hunter interpreted the man’s behavior as a sign that he was being subtly warned.
Ah, right. Since there are a lot of people here who aren’t familiar with technical terms, I should probably explain everything first. I an, not everyone studies all the ti like Hunter Kim does.
A distortion no longer even worth ntioning.
Hmm, and since the Tower of a Hundred People is such a rare dungeon, I’m sure there’s still a lot of undisclosed information out there. So, well, I’ll try to explain in as much detail as possible based on what I experienced.
The national hero continued his explanation. But as the conversation went on, Giryeo couldn’t hide his astonishnt. After all, the black-haired mammal recalled and explained the details of the dungeon down to the tiniest unit.
The conditions of the Tower of a Hundred People are complex.
1 Despite its na, the Tower of a Hundred People doesn't actually accommodate a hundred individuals. Its interior space is as narrow as a coliseum, naturally limiting the number of challengers.
2 There are a total of 10 floors.
3 Once inside, boss-level monsters from all over the world appear randomly within the dungeon's difficulty range.
4 In this context, "random" also includes the number of enemies. In Jung Haseong's experience, the number of bosses per floor ca out in a haphazard order—specifically 3-1-2-2, and so on.
5 Once you enter the gate, the entrance closes about 30 seconds later and the first-floor trial begins—aning no additional personnel can be deployed mid-way.
You can really tell this dungeon was deliberately designed to extract as much pain as possible.
A gate where only boss-tier monsters appear one after another.
'I think I might've heard sothing like that ntioned around the ti of the news reports?'
The awakened individuals gathered at the scene were about to nod in casual agreent for a mont—but as soon as they heard the example that ca out of Haseong's mouth next, everyone's jaws dropped in shock and confusion.
“To give you a comparison—this dungeon is like having three of Golden Fragrance's [Grid] show up at once, one shakes the ground with a quake pattern, another is throwing punches at the hunters, and the last one is charging in to tackl
As they heard the example that ca out of Haseong's mouth next, everyone's jaws dropped in shock and confusion.
“To give you a comparison—this dungeon is like having three of Golden Fragrance’s [Grid] show up at once, one shakes the ground with a quake pattern, another is throwing punches at the hunters, and the last one is charging in to tackle you.”
“Whoa…”
Oh my gosh.
“Just imagining it is overwhelming, right? But it seems like the dungeon was designed to get harder with each floor. In the later stages, you start seeing monster species you really don’t want grouped together… all appearing in the sa place…”
Anyway, it’s tough. As Jung Haseong wrapped up his explanation with that remark, a heavy silence settled over the group.
“Jung Haseong. But didn’t you say you once closed this Tower of a Hundred People all by yourself?”
The one who broke the mood was a blond man.
“Yes. When I cleared the Tower of a Hundred People, Singapore was overwheld by the Dragon’s Nest… They were in a difficult situation. Korea was also tight on resources, so I rember being dispatched alone.”
Yes. When I cleared the Tower of a Hundred People, Singapore was overwheld by the Dragon's Nest... They were in a difficult situation. Korea was also tight on resources, so I rember being dispatched alone.
Hmm.
Back then, I was personally going through a period of extre overwork. I was awake for three full days out of the week, so looking back now... I honestly don't know what state of mind I was in to keep going like that...
Fidgeting.
The hunter ranked number one glanced nervously at the blond-ranked hunter standing beside him during the conversation. Yet, he also briefly seed lost in so kind of recollection.
This aside, the Tower of a Hundred People is also a dungeon that feels more difficult due to the basic limitations of being human.
Jung Haseong lifted his head to face forward and continued listing the key details of the dungeon.
Above all, 'camping' is impossible.
Camping?
“Above all, ‘camping’ is impossible.”
“Camping?”
“The rooms are small. Once you defeat all the monsters in a round, the space imdiately shifts to the next floor, so there’s no ti to rest at all.”
“Hoo.”
“That’s why this is a dungeon that kills people.”
A gate where, once the raid begins, you can’t even sit down until you reach the final floor.
The awakened ones gathered at the scene simultaneously stiffened their expressions. Their eyes took on the weary look of office workers facing an unwanted holiday shift. With a gate this complex in its chanisms, even assembling top-tier A-rankers would surely bring all sorts of dangers.
Was the prestige of the [Tower of a Hundred People] really not exaggerated all this ti?
“Don’t worry too much, everyone.”
However, their country didn’t have to worry too much about that unusually difficult dungeon.
Things like the appearance of various attributes, or the long corridors typical of tower-type dungeons— no matter what bizarre drawbacks you attach to it, in the end, it’s just a nest. And as you can see, when it cos to manpower, South Korea’s hunting industry is second to none.
“I’ve been talking for a long ti. As per the agreent I’ve already seen with the association headquarters, I’m going to be in charge of this gate.”
“Gasp!”
“Yeess?”
Attempting a solo raid on none other than the [Tower of a Hundred People]?
“I only gave the explanation so you’d have a reference in case sothing like this appears again while I’m away.”
What’s even more surprising is that the person who said it looked rather cheerful.
“Since the Tower of a Hundred People is fixed at A-rank anyway, it’s actually much cleaner for one high-ranked indivi
What's even more surprising is that the person who said it looked rather cheerful.
“Since the Tower of a Hundred People is fixed at A-rank anyway, it’s actually much cleaner for one high-ranked individual to handle it rather than having a large group crowd in.”
For reference, Esther declined the schedule, saying she saw no need to rush into a dungeon that wasn’t even S-rank.
“One person?”
But aside from that purple-haired curse user—wasn’t there also a companion present at the scene right now?
“One person? What about Hunter Kim Giryeo standing beside you?”
“Ah. Hunter Kim is…”
Swish.
While the office worker and the top-ranked hunter were talking, the hunter who had been quietly still like a stuffed straw dummy quietly poked their head into the gate.
“I’m just here to follow along and analyze the rare gate.”
“Aah~”
“Since I also have [Appraisal] skills.”
So that’s why he was standing there with his hands behind his back like it wasn’t his concern. Co to think of it, it’s pretty rare to see an Appraisal accompany a dungeon raid...
‘An S-rank appraiser, huh.’
Is it really right to protect a special ability user even in a situation like this?
It was around the ti the employee from Sejong City was flustered after encountering an excessively strong appraiser. The dyed-haired man, who had poked his head into the otherworldly passage, pulled his body back out again.
“Have you completed the inspection, Hunter?”
An inspection, huh. Yeah, at first, that was definitely the only reason he ca down here.
“Hunter?”
The appraiser, having finished their observation, soon showed a subtle reaction. Giryeo thought, with a perfectly unreadable expression no Earthling could decipher.
‘It’s tough.’
This dungeon called the [Tower of a Hundred People]—no matter how you looked at it, sothing felt off. Especially the atmosphere... if he were to put it in the words commonly used by the humans of this land, it felt downright chilling.
‘Hmm.’
According to the Pixy analyzer, it was clearly labeled as an A-rank nest. But once inside, the mana felt slightly different—sothing he could sense on his skin.
‘Why is it so uncomfortable.’
In the Archmage’s judgnt, the mana levels in this dungeon felt excessively uneven from floor to floor.
'Why is it so uncomfortable.'
In the Archmage's judgnt, the mana levels in this dungeon felt excessively uneven from floor to floor.
"Hmm."
"What's wrong?"
But it was difficult to explain this to Haseong.
'No matter how you look at it, the lower floors definitely fall within the A-rank gate category... but sohow, I have a gut feeling that the upper levels brush right up against S-rank.'
Because the ominous atmosphere sensed here could only be perceived—barely so—by soone with transcendent magical power, like that of an Archmage.
"Hunter Kim, are you perhaps worried that I might overexert myself in this dungeon?"
"...."
"But I've already experienced the Tower of a Hundred People before, and based on that, I'm confident that I can clear it much more easily now."
....
But I've already experienced the Tower of a Hundred People before, and based on that, I'm confident that I can clear it much more easily now.
....
I'll make sure to deliver results so you won't regret what you've taught . P, please, believe in .
There was no benefit in revealing such sharp intuition in front of an Earthling. Having finished his calculations, Giryeo lightly tugged up his glove at the wrist and spoke.
Haseong-ah. I changed my mind, so contact the association.
Yes?
It's not that I don't trust you, I just wanted to look at the gate.
It's hard to explain anyway, so he just made up another excuse.
Anyway, I have to see the results of the class with my own eyes, so I can find out what needs to be fixed....
It’s hard to explain anyway, so he just made up another excuse.
“Anyway, I have to see the results of the class with my own eyes, so I can find out what needs to be fixed....”
“Aah.”
Jeong Haseong, usually a calm young man with little expression, began to show a lot of reaction. By the ti the hunter beside him placed a hand on his forehead and spoke those words, even the top-ranked hunter, rarely shaken, was visibly stunned.
“Ugh... Suddenly, the stress and muscle tension headache from that fierce battle with Kang Changho is kicking in again...”
“Heuk?!”
“...Since it’s still lingering, I won’t be able to assist in combat—just keep that in mind.”
It was only hard to tell at first because the sambaegan man’s expression was so emotionless. But upon listening closely, it turned out to be just a joke, and the tension soon eased.
“Ah, yes! Of course. I’ll make sure to handle things so you can focus entirely on your analysis, Hunter.”
Like oil and water refusing to mix, the mana density in each floor of Korea’s [Tower of a Hundred People] was strangel
Ah, yes! Of course. I'll make sure to handle things so you can focus entirely on your analysis, Hunter.
Like oil and water refusing to mix, the mana density in each floor of Korea's [Tower of a Hundred People] was strangely divided. If that's the case, could the final boss of this dungeon really be an S-rank monster, one that absorbed all the resources?
'There's an 80% chance it was just my feeling.'
It doesn't really matter.
'Even if a borderline S-rank boss really shows up, there's a 90% chance Jung Haseong will roast it anyway.'
As shown during the previous [Six-Legged Corridor] incident, Jung Haseong's current skill level was on a completely different level compared to when he cleared the [Tower of a Hundred People] in Singapore.
'And even if, by so one-in-a-million chance, things go wrong—if this body, ard with gear worth tens of billions, steps in to assist, the survival rate becos 100%.'
Heh.
But if he got lazy and the carefully trained S-rank ended up dying, that would be a disaster. So Giryeo decided to act as insurance himself, to prevent a loss on the scale of a delisting.
The top-ranked hunter who had endured grueling training! And on top of that, accompanied by a living trap detector more capable than most appraisers. With these two monsters entering a gate classified as rely A-rank, surely nothing could possibly go wrong... right?
“Haseong-ah, let’s get ready quickly.”
“Yes.”
“Co to think of it, tomorrow morning there’s Ahn Yoonseung. He’s an acquaintance in the industry, and he got invited to a popular restaurant on the social dia platform Gram, so I ended up with plans as well...”
But the Archmage and his apprentice—regretted stepping into this nest barely 30 seconds after entering the dungeon.
– Ding ding ding ding ding ding...
– [Welco Greeting]
More precisely, they were regretting the fact that they had challenged this nest together.
– [Life is not fun if it’s too easy.]
– [So this ti, sothing new]
– [I prepared it.]
Honestly, how did beings that constantly leave out basic sentence elents ever manage to possess the complex mammalian bodies of Earthlings in the first place?
– Penalty
– [In this space, your vertical and horizontal vision will appear inverted.]
Author's Thoughts
Hi, from now on, I will update this novel 3 chapters/week. Thank you for all your support so far:)
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