Chapter 151

 

The tower that suddenly fell from the sky was still an unknown space with nothing yet revealed. It had suspicious powers strong enough to suddenly repel people inside, and being a stage-type dungeon, no one knew where it ended. 

In other words, once you entered this time, there was no telling when you could return. With luck, you might just break through the blocked door on the 20th floor and come out, but if unlucky… Let’s not imagine such terrible things.

‘Equipment is ready, and I can process and sell the potions I’ve made from my concentrate. I’ve also posted the notice. I guess preparations are complete.’

With all eyes on the workshop right now, I was worried about leaving the squirrel alone. Though they said the guild’s security would remain the same in my absence, lately there had been an increase in crazy people among the customers.

While getting my equipment, I bought a weapon from the showroom that Seung-yeon could use. The question was whether she could use it well…

Looking at Seung-yeon’s back as he moved busily around, I spoke up.

“Seung-yeon ah. If some crazy bastard comes and gives you trouble, don’t hold back—grab your equipment and beat them.”

“What? But, Eui-jin nim, using items outside of dungeons isn’t allowed…”

“That’s something to deal with later. Just beat them first. That’s what weapons are for. If you’re scared to be alone in the workshop, call Jin-myung or Su-cheol and ask them to stay over.”

At my words, Seung-yeon clenched and unclenched his fists with an embarrassed expression.

“I’m not a child… I’ll guard the workshop safely and wait for you, Eui-jin.”

“Yeah. I’ll come back as quickly as possible.”

If they dawdled, I was thinking of secretly adding awakening potions to the hunters’ food.

Seung-yeon approached me and took out a flat box from his gown pocket, handing it to me.

“I prepared something too. This…”

“What is it?”

“It’s not as good as the weapon you gave me, Eui-jin but…”

Inside the box was a small metal accessory. Looking closely, I could see tiny engravings of potion bottles, crafting tools, and other symbols representing potion makers.

“Haha, what’s this? …Thank you.”

Though I thought it was a bit unexpected, it was quite cute, so I thanked Seung-yeon and took it out. As soon as my hand touched it, the accessory expanded.

What grew several times larger was no longer just an accessory. I blinked in astonishment at the crafting tools neatly arranged on the workbench.

“W-what? I thought it was just a badge or something?”

“I heard there was a skilled enchanter in the alley nearby, so I went and commissioned this. I heard dungeons are quite harsh environments. I thought it might be difficult for you to continue your crafting activities there… It’s too modest to call it a gift, but just in case… Ahh!”

When I hugged him suddenly, Seung-yeon froze.

“I was thinking of experimenting with fresh new materials once I entered the tower! A portable crafting kit, this is really the best! How did you think of this?”

“I-I’m glad you like it…”

With my SS-class crafting skill, Golden Cauldron, I wasn’t constrained by location when making potions. However, to make high-purity and precise potions, the ingredients also had to follow the formula. 

This meant that even if I obtained fresh ingredients in the dungeon, to make potions I would have to sit in a corner of the dungeon to prepare, dry, or peel the ingredients. 

It was an incredibly annoying task. I had packed a pocket knife in my inventory to prepare ingredients, but this small badge solved all those problems.

I smiled as I firmly attached the badge Seung-yeon gave me to my belt.

“With this, I could survive in the dungeon for weeks.”

“B-but please come back quickly…”

“Of course.”

***

Finally, the morning of our departure to Jeju Island dawned. I wore the 30-slot inventory belt filled with potions and materials, and attached the newly acquired dagger – my preparations for the dungeon journey were complete. I patted the head of Cloud who was staring blankly up at me.

“Ready?”

“Meeeh-.”

“I don’t know why the tower is calling you, but let’s go see. Come in!”

When I stomped my left foot once, Cloud bumped his head and entered into the pattern. After leaving the room and going down to the lobby, Zero and Cheong were waiting for me.

“Hello, Cheong. Zero too.”

“Hello, Boss.”

“Cheon Rang’s car is waiting outside.”

“Already? Let’s go quickly.”

We were taking Cheon Rang’s private aircraft to Jeju Island, so it wouldn’t have mattered if we were a bit late, but Seong San-ha said if we arrived early, he would show us around Jeju Island with the extra time. That’s why we had moved our afternoon flight to the morning.

“Eui-jin nim, please take care!”

Leaving behind Seung-yeon and Su-cheol waving their hands, I boarded the white limousine waiting on the empty main road. Seong San-ha, who was already inside, nodded with a slight smile.

“Good morning.”

We drove along the wide-open road toward the aviation center where the private aircraft was waiting.

Seeing the large airplane waiting against the backdrop of a seemingly endless runway, I got a bit excited, almost forgetting we were heading to a dungeon. I hadn’t flown many times before, and now we’d have a private plane just for us!

“I, I want to board first.”

I hurried up the stairs and onto the plane. Imagining the empty interior, I turned the corner only to find a woman sitting right in the middle. Calmly flipping through a magazine was none other than Lim Dan. The moment I saw her black bob cut, I couldn’t help but blurt out in surprise.

“What? Why are you here?”

“It’s a quest, what else? Where’s Cheong?”

A quest… surely she’s not talking about me?

Lim Dan, who had coldly answered my question, brightened up immediately when she saw Cheong entering behind me. She gestured to the seat beside her.

“Cheong, sit here.”

“…Security comes first.”

When Cheong said he would sit near me, Lim Dan glared at me. As I was scratching my head, Zero and Seong San-ha also boarded the plane. I immediately pulled San-ha aside and whispered.

“Hey! Why is Lim Dan suddenly here? Don’t tell me she’s coming to the tower too?”

Seong San-ha, who had seated me by the window, sat next to me and replied.

“Due to the globally designated Special Disaster Law, the well-being of the Constellations along with the quests of S-class hunters take top priority. If they claim the right to protect a Constellation through a quest, there’s no way to stop them. It’s essentially giving them the legal right to follow you around. We took measures for the workshop before the special law was enacted, but there’s no other way in other areas.”

“What the hell? Who decided this? I don’t need that kind of protection!”

“Not just Lim Dan, other hunters are probably waiting to enter the tower with you too.”

First the Constellation map, and now they’re legalizing this crap? Damn, aren’t they all crazy? The whole quest system itself is a harmful practice that should be abolished.

‘S-class hunters have been accepting those kinds of quests, but what about my quest? They should at least give me back my skill.’

Despite previously hoping my quest would remain deactivated and never return, I opened and closed my still-quiet main quest window repeatedly, swallowing my complaints.

At least the sky as the plane took off provided some comfort to my heart. Seeing the fluffy clouds floating by, I wanted to show this to Cloud too. 

After confirming that Im Dan had fallen asleep a few seats away, I gently tapped my ankle to summon Cloud. Popping out at my gesture, Cloud looked around with a puzzled expression.

“Mee-.”

“Cloud, shh!”

When I put my index finger to my lips, Cloud intelligently closed his mouth and tilted his head. From beside me came Seong San-ha’s surprised chuckle.

I lifted Cloud up so he could see out the window. Then I lowered my head and whispered into his pink ear.

“Those are clouds. They look just like you, don’t they?”

Instead of a “meh” sound, his ears just flapped back and forth. I giggled at the cute sight when a white gloved hand entered my view. Seong San-ha was carefully stroking Cloud’s fur with fascinated eyes.

Sensing the unfamiliar touch, Cloud glanced back, snorted through his nose, and then turned his attention back to the window as if uninterested.

***

As soon as we left the airport, we were greeted by trees that looked like they belonged in a tropical dungeon. Perhaps because there weren’t many tall buildings, the wider sky and black rocks made me feel like I was in a foreign country.

‘It would have been even more beautiful without those planets.’

I quietly gazed at the two planets rising in the sky, and the distant black pillar.

Me, Seong San-ha, Cheong, Zero, and even Lim Dan. An unofficial party of five S-class hunters had formed. We went straight to the beach to see the emerald sea and then devoured 1 million won worth of Jeju’s famous black pork. 

We also briefly visited a dungeon in a botanical garden halfway up Mount Halla to collect Jeju’s native poisonous fern, an ingredient I had been coveting for a long time.

During that time, I noticed we were being followed several times. But seeing how everyone was aware yet unable to respond, I figured they were likely S-class hunters who had come after me.

Aside from being irritating, they fortunately didn’t approach us directly, so they didn’t ruin my first Jeju Island trip.

After spending the last comfortable night at the hotel, we arrived the next day at Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, where the Jeju tower was located.

Since the central area had been completely consumed by the pillar’s base, all that remained was a sign pointing toward the waterfall.

The tower entrance was crowded with hunters waiting for re-entry, gathered like a swarm of clouds. We cut through them to reach the front of the entrance.

“The gate will reopen now!”

As I watched the rippling waves grow larger and the gate opening, the hunters behind us began to murmur loudly. Suddenly, Cheong summoned his sword.

‘What’s going on?’

The moment I turned around in confusion, I locked eyes with someone I never expected to see.

“This son of a bitch…”

Tae Jae-heon was leisurely walking toward me with his subordinates in tow.