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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Became a Hunter with the Heavenly Murder Star Trait
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"Haaah..."
"Hooo..."
The Talent Management Team was filled with deep sighs.
There were only two survivors who returned safely from this tutorial.
The fact that two had returned at once was enough to make anyone faint.
But there was something even more astonishing.
Lee Tae-pyeong.
Not content with exterminating the Ratmen in the tutorial,
he had torn apart and killed Lizardmen and Vampires too—that Lee Tae-pyeong.
Lee Tae-pyeong hadn't climbed the tower because he wanted to become a Hunter.
He was a victim of housing fraud.
The type who became a climber thinking he might as well die.
In cases like this, the government didn't hold high hopes.
Even if they luckily survived the tutorial,
they wouldn't contribute Merit Points to South Korea by climbing the tower.
Once a year,
they'd climb only low-level sections and then loaf around eating for free.
The so-called freeloaders.
The type who, after finishing the tutorial, spent a year lounging in the provided dorms.
In such cases, they neglected training, their skills rusted, and they sometimes died absurdly in low-level sections.
What if Lee Tae-pyeong turned out that way?
Even with a trait called Heavenly Murder Star,
an unused blade rusts,
and unused skills rust too.
No matter how good the trait,
it meant nothing if not used.
There were plenty of rookies.
It was just that few 'survived' as rookies.
So, what about Lee Tae-pyeong?
"Should we really let him go solo?"
Kang Min-ah muttered to herself as she reviewed Lee Tae-pyeong's solo application again.
In truth, when the application arrived,
the Talent Management Team had already been in chaos.
How long had it been since he returned from the tutorial?
And he was submitting an application already?
A solo application, no less?
The worry that he might be a freeloader evaporated in an instant.
An even bigger concern had overwhelmed the team.
What if Lee Tae-pyeong entered solo and 'died'?
No matter that he'd exterminated Ratmen and killed Lizardmen and Vampires,
Lee Tae-pyeong was still a total newbie fresh from the tutorial.
Even with the terrifying Heavenly Murder Star trait,
he hadn't even reached level 5 yet.
The standard path was to run low-level sections with a government-matched party at first,
stably reaching level 5.
Because at level 5, you gained a second skill.
With two skills and items from low-level sections,
you could reach level 10 without issue.
Only then could you challenge solo climbs based on your goals.
However,
Lee Tae-pyeong ignored this 'standard path.'
He chose solo from his very first official climb.
"Shouldn't we try to stop him?"
Someone cautiously spoke up.
"Should we go talk him out of it now?"
Kang Min-ah shot to her feet as if she'd been waiting.
But
"..."
the Talent Management Team leader said nothing.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath,
and then
"No."
opened his mouth in a firm voice.
"Don't. Just watch."
"Pardon? But..."
"He clearly has big ambitions."
"...!"
"He's no ordinary guy. Let him do as he wants."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Entering Babel Tower."
With the still-unfamiliar sensation, my surroundings flipped in an instant.
When I opened my eyes again, a system window appeared.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Welcome to the Hide-and-Seek map. Survive without being killed by the tagger. Items helpful for survival are hidden throughout.
Hide-and-seek?
Tagger?
Survival?
Ah.
It's a survival-type map.
I wondered what it meant by hide-and-seek.
The tagger must be the boss.
I learned about this in training.
The tagger, or boss, is an absolute being you can't kill.
So, you run and hide to avoid being caught by the boss,
surviving without dying.
It's a bit different from the tutorial.
There, I had to survive miscellaneous monsters,
but here, just survive the tagger.
'There might be other races too, though...'
The tutorial had a survival map,
and now an official one too.
Honestly, survival types don't seem to suit me well.
My trait is Heavenly Murder Star, after all.
Wouldn't extermination battles be way more advantageous?
Well, whatever.
What's done is done.
I'll just have to deal with it.
"Hmm..."
I quickly scanned my surroundings.
The tutorial was an underground cave.
This felt completely different.
Like stepping into a sci-fi movie.
An incredibly advanced future era?
That's the vibe.
Compared to that, I was...
'Primitive man level.'
I had no items yet, basically naked.
In the tutorial, I hadn't gotten weapons,
so I stole and used Ratman and Lizardman blades.
Have to do the same here?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Time remaining until end: 30 days
30 days, huh.
Longer than I thought.
Of course, tower time differs from reality.
One month in the tower is one day outside.
So, when I return, only a day will have passed.
I heard that in training.
I just didn't expect a long-term battle so soon.
If I have to survive here for 30 days...
'First, secure water, food, and a place to sleep.'
Tougher than expected.
Unfamiliar map too.
I only studied for three months during tutorial prep,
so maybe I missed it?
Or a new map.
Or looks familiar but totally different.
Heh.
Solo maps have low survival rates for a reason.
But
Whether unfamiliar,
new,
or something else,
who cares.
Doesn't matter.
I'll make it work somehow!
"Ha, tsk..."
No matter how I think about it, my personality's changed a bit.
Because of the Heavenly Murder Star.
But it doesn't feel bad.
Nice to be mysteriously optimistic?
Before, I worried so much I even considered suicide.
Now, I can't worry even if I try.
What's there to worry about?
That mindset's become default.
'First, scout the surroundings.'
This place felt like a factory.
Some kind of manufacturing facility, anyway.
Didn't know what exactly.
Abandoned factory vibe.
Beyond unbreakable transparent walls,
strange traces.
Broken debris and dried black slime.
I walked the passages, observing through the glass walls.
Signs were there, but unreadable text.
How long did I walk?
"A room?"
A door appeared.
Still unreadable text on it.
Could be a trap?
-Creak.
I opened it tensely.
Thankfully, no trap.
"Bathroom."
Just a normal bathroom.
My throat was dry anyway.
-Gush gush gush.
Clean water flowed from the sink.
Sniff sniff. Smell's fine.
I cupped water in my hands and drank.
-Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
"Phew."
Tastes normal.
Good.
Water secured for now?
Remember this place.
Water's key to survival!
I continued scouting.
Found a couple more bathrooms,
but no water there.
Lucky to find the first one.
If needed, make it my base.
Sleep? Closet works.
By the way,
-...
-...
Pretty quiet.
Aside from occasional humming machinery,
no signs of life.
Because it's hide-and-seek?
Unlike the cave map, no monsters.
Maybe unnecessary with the tagger.
"Tsk..."
A bit disappointing.
No, no.
Disappointing? Nah.
Good thing.
No monsters means easier scouting!
I cautiously opened the passage-end door.
Button there, but power's long cut, apparently.
Had to force it open.
-Graaah grind.
Ugh, strength improved with levels, but
this is tough.
"Hoo."
Couldn't fully open it, just slipped through the small gap.
Inside was a vast space.
Countless tables and chairs.
Flickering screen on the ceiling.
Unreadable text again.
But I could guess.
"Cafeteria..."
Makes sense.
Menu boards and such.
No food, though.
Another ruined spot?
Still, might find something.
Let's search.
I passed tables toward what looked like the kitchen.
Kitchen door opened easily.
The moment I entered,
"...!"
-Slash!!
Something fast grazed under my chin.
If I hadn't dodged, my head would've flown.
But
'What?'
I felt it the instant I grabbed the handle.
Thick killing intent like a stench.
Instinct let me dodge easily.
"Kekeke..."
Laughter followed.
'Orc?'
Another异種族.
That's why no other monsters.
"Kahaha! A human?"
The Orc burst out laughing upon seeing my face.
Similar to the Lizardman situation.
"Weak prey!"
"..."
"Heh, die!!!"
Monologuing alone, then suddenly swinging his blade.
I dodged with a slight twist.
'Too slow.'
Easier than Lizardman, even.
Just brute strength?
Movements overly big.
Thus slower.
-Whoosh!
-Swish swish!
After dodging a few swings easily,
the Orc's eyes changed.
"Y-you bastard!!!"
Now serious.
The moment he regripped his blade,
-Grip!
I grabbed a heavy cutting board from the counter.
Blade would've been better.
No luck.
Well, kill the Orc and take his.
-Smaaash!!!!!
I swung the board.
Direct hit to his already hideous face.
Flat nose now unrecognizable mush.
Before he realized he'd been smashed,
-Splat!!
I hammered his head madly with the board.
Splat.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Crack.
Until something broke.
Of course, not dead yet.
Orcs are tanky; can't snap neck like Ratman.
Need a blade after all.
Sheesh.
Cafeteria, should've had a cleaver or something.
Why so clean?
-Thud!!!
Orc collapsed backward, unable to withstand.
Felt like the floor shook.
No, a few head smacks and down?
Orcs ain't much.
Supposed to be brutally strong.
Ah, surviving this is the strength proof?
Anyway.
"Oh, here it is."
I rummaged the fallen Orc.
Some weapons at his waist, mostly clubs.
The usable one:
"This?"
Rusty or bloodstained blade.
Mottled colors.
Like a cleaver.
Grabbed it, and chills ran down my back.
Probably Heavenly Murder Star exciting again.
"Hoo, calm. Calm down. Stay cool."
Deep breaths, gripped the cleaver tight.
Orc stared up in disbelief.
"It's fine. Fine. Fine."
Eyes like looking at a total psycho.
"I'm not excited. Not excited. Not..."
Muttering, I raised the cleaver high.
"I!"
-Swing!
"Am!"
-Thud!
"Not!"
-Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!!
The Orc's head split in two.
My face, reflected in the blood-soaked cleaver,
was smiling.