Enhancement
[You have entered the 31st floor of the Tower of Despair.]
The moment they entered, an overwhelming wave of heat poured down on them.
It was a scorching intensity that made even the hottest sauna seem like a joke.
"I'm burniiing!"
"Stick close to me quick."
He pulled out the Millennium Glacier Fragment he'd obtained from the prison last time.
An item that wouldn't melt no matter the heat and lowered the temperature in a certain radius.
He draped the heat-reflecting blanket he'd bought at the outlet over Seira, Kancho, and Momo, who were huddling together.
Now it was finally bearable.
The four of them, peeking out only their faces, fixed their gazes on Dark.
The only one in the party who could withstand the heat.
Everyone's expressions screamed, 'We're counting on you back there!'
"I'll be right back."
Dark shrugged his shoulders and kicked off the ground.
Without hesitation, he dropped right into the middle of the lava zone and began swinging his chains.
'Sorry, Dark.'
It felt like he was working the guy extra hard today.
"Guildmaster. Don't we have to keep doing this until we pass the 40th floor-nyang?"
"Nah. We'll either buy some or rent it."
Truth be told, he'd planned to buy some at the outlet today.
Not these picnic-blanket-style heat-reflecting covers, but proper wearable gear.
But with the recent surge in newbie players, prices for 30th-floor-section equipment had skyrocketed.
With the money he had, he could barely afford a single pair of pants, so he'd grabbed these cheap blankets as a stopgap.
'At the very least, I need to gear up Momo.'
Dark could handle the fighting, but item gathering was Momo's job alone.
He'd have to scrounge up some kid-sized heat-resistant suit or something in a pinch.
"Just ask that old guy, right-nyang?"
"Yeah, that's the plan. He said he'd drop by tomorrow."
He wasn't shameless enough to straight-up ask for a handout.
He just planned to inquire if the Hunter Agency had any spares he could borrow.
Zzzzap! Crackle!
Ice surged up from the front, engulfing the lava golem and goon squad.
Lavas had their tough shells, and golems their rock hides—infamous for shrugging off blades in the 30th-floor section.
But even they couldn't stand up to the extreme cold of absolute zero.
Ding!
[You have cleared the 31st floor of the Tower of Despair! Time elapsed: 1 minute 40 seconds! You record an SSS+ grade for overwhelming speed!]
[Player Yoo Jinhyuk's level has risen. Current level: 38]
[The SSS+ trait 'Genius of Growth' activates! All held stats rise simultaneously!]
[Seira Kin-Kaiton's level has risen! Current level: 122]
[The locked skill 'Black Shadow Slash' is unsealed! A sword technique that thrusts forward in an instant, slicing through all enemies in a straight line!]
It sounded cool just from the name.
Seira gazed down at her sword as light seeped into her body.
The other companions' experience bars had all climbed evenly, between 10 and 20 percent.
"Master."
"Yeah?"
Seira alternated her gaze between the sword in her hand and Dark, who was returning.
"I wholeheartedly approve of this combat style. It's convenient and effective."
Up until now, Seira had been the first to charge into every floor, sweeping the battlefield.
For the first time, she'd gotten to slack off, and she seemed thoroughly satisfied.
"Puhuhu! Even Seira's figured it out-nyang!?"
Kancho, who'd ridden the bus plenty herself, made a troubled face.
Sweet things were always best savored alone, but now there were more mouths to feed.
"Momo too... Huh? Where'd she go?"
He looked around.
Before he could say anything, Momo was already deep in collection mode.
"It's not hot-nyang?! Momo?!"
Kancho raised her voice, but Momo didn't respond.
Was she naturally heat-resistant? Right then, Momo flopped over flat on her face.
"Momoooo!"
He rushed over with the glacier fragment and heat blanket in hand.
"Whew, I almost died of heat."
Once he fanned her with a cool breeze, Momo sprang back up and resumed collecting.
They trailed after Momo like that for a while.
"All done!"
[You acquire a large quantity of glossy lava shells! Exceptional durability that bounces off most blades! Used in the production of heavy and light armor!]
[You acquire a large quantity of lava golem cores! Killed in a frozen state, condition is excellent! Used in magitech, fetches a high price!]
[You acquire aromatic lava tentacles! Can be stewed and ground into medicinal ingredients!]
After packing the byproducts neatly into his bag, Momo clung to him like glue with the glacier fragment.
Any longer, and their faces would've turned to jerky, so they hurried out of the tower.
Back in their room, Jinhyuk's group wiped the sweat from their brows.
Only Dark, who'd done all the real work, chuckled softly as he watched them.
"Hoo. We seriously need to get gear soon. Without it, we can't even twitch."
Jinhyuk sprawled out flat and dropped his head.
He hadn't done a thing, yet he was utterly drained.
"This won't cut it for me either-dang. In the 30th-floor section, I might have to unsummon myself-dang."
Maybe because of her fluffy fur, Kancho was suffering the most.
"No way. Then you won't get any EXP. I'll hook you up tomorrow too."
"Thanks-dang."
"Too hot... Guildmaster!"
Kancho's ears perked up, and Jinhyuk turned his head.
He didn't even need detection skills.
The heavy, rapid footsteps thudding closer.
Knock knock.
The four of them vanished just as the knock came.
"Jinhyuk-ssi?"
"Yes! Come on in!"
Se-yeon opened the door and recoiled with a hiss.
It was like stepping into a room with the boiler cranked to max—the heat blasting out.
"You must've just come back from the tower."
It was late into the night.
Sleepless, she'd been browsing Tower sites when the Records of Honor updated out of nowhere.
With him already injured, climbing the tower? She'd rushed over in a panic.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Totally fine."
"But."
Se-yeon trailed off, her eyes flicking to the pot and instant rice containers scattered on the floor.
Enough for at least six servings, and they'd been polished clean.
"You really pack it away. Is it like, the awakened class gets stronger the more you eat?"
"When you're hungry, you just don't have the energy."
Even with his vague dodge, Se-yeon didn't pry further.
Just as you didn't ask age abroad, it was etiquette among awakeners not to question each other's classes.
'I really, really want to grill him.'
Of course, Se-yeon was desperately holding back her questions.
Jinhyuk, fresh from the tower.
Yet his body bore no sign of proper heat gear.
Meaning he'd gone in like that—and cleared it in 1 minute 40 seconds? How?
"Don't push yourself. You don't want that wound reopening."
"Yessir! I'll be careful!"
"Then get some sleep. I'm really heading to bed now."
"Sweet dreams. Bye-bye."
Se-yeon let out a small laugh at Jinhyuk's wave.
He had this knack for deflating her resolve and tension just when she'd psyched herself up to ask.
"Bye-bye."
She returned the greeting and headed back to her room.
Still, sharing a place with the guy who'd become a global celeb on the Records of Honor.
It felt kinda weird.
'Am I the only one?'
Se-yeon tilted her head and flopped onto her bed.
It was late.
Time to actually sleep.
And a few minutes later.
Jinhyuk, who'd had his ear to the door, sank to the floor.
[You enter the 1st floor of the Myth Tower, the Forest of Yordles.]
Cleared once before, so floors 1-1 and 1-2 were merged into a single 1st floor.
As they entered the village, the yordle friends from last time swarmed over.
Seira was as popular as ever today.
A few bolted with wails at the sight of Kancho, though.
"Just how much did you torment them?"
"I never tormented anyone-dang! I just blew up a toy or their hideout now and then while making bombs-dang!"
'You totally did.'
Jinhyuk nodded and walked alongside Kancho.
He left the yordle friends to Dark and Seira.
"Let's swing by there real quick."
"Not heading straight there-nyang?"
"Gotta grab something at least."
He'd originally planned to follow Kancho's rec and pick up some chicken.
But somehow, he'd ended up coming empty-handed.
"Momo, pull out the bulgogi, eggs, soy sauce, butter, and rice."
"Okay!"
Flick's subspace bag, usable even outdoors.
Talk about convenient.
Jinhyuk lit a fire and stir-fried rice in butter.
A cheat dish you could whip up fast but never lost to any gourmet meal in flavor: soy sauce egg butter rice.
He piled the fluffy fried rice high, topped it with egg, and drizzled soy sauce.
"Alright. This is for you and Momo. Eat on the way."
After scooping into small bowls, he followed Kancho into the woods.
"What's this-nyang?! It's amaazing-dang!"
"Tasty!"
Jinhyuk rubbed his nose.
The soy sauce egg butter rice that had gotten him through those penniless basement days.
A killer dish packed with carbs, protein, and fats.
Back then it'd been margarine instead of butter, but still.
Before long, an ancient tree stump appeared.
"That's it-dang. The house is inside the tree-dang."
Kancho, who'd inhaled her rice in seconds, dashed to the house.
And pounded on the door with all her might.
"Old man! Is Toto Gramps home-nyang?!"
They waited, but no answer came.
As if expecting it, Kancho pulled explosive modeling clay from her pouch.
"Now I'll count to three-dang. Ha! Two!"
Whoosh!
Was he rushing?
The yordle grandpa with snow-white eyebrows and beard was drenched in sweat.
"What kind of lunatic yordle counts to 'ha! two!' like that?!"
"That's how I count-dang! If you're there, open up quick—what're you waiting for-nyang!"
Jinhyuk swallowed dryly.
The pot calling the kettle black.
That had to be the idiom coined for Kancho.
At this rate, it'd be a door-in-the-face, so he stepped forward quick.
"Hello. Sir. I'm Yoo Jinhyuk. I'm in the same unit as Kancho. Ah, before it gets cold, try some of this."
"Hmm?"
Toto eyed the egg rice with deep suspicion.
Seeing it for the first time, he sniffed it first.
"You don't bring filthy stuff to good food-nyang! If you won't eat it, gimme! I'll have it!"
"Shut your trap, you yordle brat! I just washed up!"
Toto took the bowl and hesitantly scooped with his spoon.
After a few chews, his eyes lit up like fireworks.
No need to hear it.
Those eyes said it all.
It was delicious. Period.
Once Toto finished eating, Jinhyuk explained the purpose of their visit.
"Oho. Yordle compass enhancement."
"Remember! The moment I fall asleep, this ancient tree vanishes forever-dang!"
"Who do you take me for, some dozing backroom geezer, kuh..."
Like a lie, Toto dozed off.
Jinhyuk drew a deep breath.
Could he really entrust it to this guy?
"Leave it to me!"
Toto snapped awake in an instant and took the yordle compass to his workbench.
And so the enhancement work began.
The clinking and clanking echoed loudly.
They watched with tense faces for a moment.
Then, sweat-soaked Toto extended the compass with a face fresher than a daisy.
"Done!"
Ding!
[The yordle compass enhancement has succeeded!]
[A precision tracking function has been added to the yordle compass!]
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T/N:
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