HRMCT 32

Chapter: 32

Kuuuuuuuuuugh-!

The majesty of the Earth Dragon, seen once again, was truly magnificent.

Eugene couldn’t help but admire the creature as it charged wildly, laying waste to the ground of the First Floor.

“Incredible, truly incredible.”

How could something shaped like an earthworm move that fast?

The Earth Dragon, writhing and surging forward to devour the prey before its eyes, was calamity itself.

Of course, that was from the perspective of the prey—not Eugene.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaa!”

A rough scream erupted from Ishia’s mouth.

“H-How the hell are we supposed to beat this thing to death!”

Park Jihu glared at Eugene, his eyes glinting with madness.

“I told you, we can catch it.”

Eugene picked at his ear and replied.

‘Did I have them hunt nothing but Red Goblins?’

On a standard growth route, you’d hunt various monsters to level up first.

Then, finally, you’d face the Earth Dragon.

With all the experience accumulated along the way, you’d be able to handle its massive size without flinching and deal with it properly.

But Ishia and Park Jihu were different.

The only monsters they’d ever hunted were Sulfur Deer and Red Goblins.

Going from fighting human-sized monsters to suddenly facing a giant beast tens of meters long—it was only natural for them to panic.

‘Still, what can I do? That was the fastest way.’

Combat experience?

Once you go up higher, it accumulates on its own whether you want it to or not.

Because you have to struggle like crazy just to survive.

It’s nothing like the relaxed, peaceful atmosphere of the First Floor.

So right now, the only thing that mattered was leveling up.

That meant Red Goblins weren’t an option—they were a necessity.

“Enough running around. Are we going to catch it now? Or are you going to keep wasting time on that thing?”

Thanks to that, the two of them had reached level 20.

Considering that the average level for leaving the First Floor was around 13, that was an impressive number.

They should be able to beat an Earth Dragon with their eyes closed…

“Hm? That’s not quite it?”

Eugene shook his head as he thought.

He couldn’t measure everything by his own standards.

Ishia and Park Jihu were talented idiots.

Better than complete morons, sure, but in Eugene’s eyes, they were only slightly better.

He shouldn’t expect too much from such blockheads.

“Anyway, if you can’t catch it within 10 minutes, it’s back to Red Goblins. If you want another week of blood-soaked living, feel free to keep running.”

Flash-!

The moment Eugene’s words ended, a black sword-light flashed.

It was Ishia’s resolve—she absolutely did not want to repeat that same experience.

“Aaaaaaaaaa!”

Park Jihu was the same.

His fist, filled with all his strength, slammed into the Earth Dragon’s belly.

Kwaaaaaaaaaang-!

The Earth Dragon’s hide was cut, then burst open.

It was like watching an old punching bag tear open, its contents spilling out.

“Kyaaaak!”

“Uweeeek!”

The two of them were drenched in the Earth Dragon’s nauseating entrails, nearly passing out from the stench.

“Honestly.”

Eugene clicked his tongue at the sight of them.

What was so impressive about catching just one of those that they had to make such a fuss?

“Don’t you agree?”

Eugene asked Chunbae, and the creature nodded.

“Kuaaaaaaaaaang-!”

“Yeah, you’re a hundred times better than those two.”

After patting its head, Eugene slowly walked forward.

Toward the two people who were vomiting up their breakfast next to the dead Earth Dragon’s corpse.

“See? It wasn’t that hard, was it? The only reason it took so long is because you panicked and ran away just because of its size.”

It had taken a whopping 40 minutes to catch the Earth Dragon.

But if they had stayed calm and fought it like they were facing a Red Goblin, they could have finished it in around 15 minutes.

“When you’re intimidated by your enemy, you can’t even bring out half of your true strength. How many times have I told you to always keep your composure?”

He had said it.

Back when they were buried in the wave of Red Goblins?

They probably hadn’t heard a thing, too busy struggling to survive.

“Anyway, you worked hard. Now let’s go up.”

Eugene casually waded through the putrid stench and approached the stairs leading to the Second Floor.

“Ah, Mister, aren’t you bothered?”

Ishia asked.

“By what?”

“This smell! Ugh!”

She gagged again as she spoke.

“You get used to it. Stop making a fuss over nothing.”

What was this smell compared to what was ahead?

Once you go up to the upper floors, you have to walk through hell worse than this.

Zombies, zombies, and more zombies.

There were times when there was no food left, so he had to tear apart rotting monster corpses and eat them raw.

Compared to that, the Earth Dragon’s guts were nothing.

“Follow me.”

Eugene glanced at them as if they were pathetic and started walking.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he muttered quietly.

“Come to think of it, there’s no place to wash up on the Second Floor.”

“Ah, Aaaaaaaaaaack!”

Ishia’s scream echoed faintly through the First Floor.

* * *

“Huff- Huff-!”

Ishia’s eyes sharpened.

The 『Black Wing [C]』 in her hand pulsed faintly, as if telling her to calm down.

‘I know.’

『Sword Heart [D]』.

That crazy psychopath’s gift had an astonishing compatibility with her.

She had always felt at peace when holding a sword, but after learning 『Sword Heart [D]』, she felt almost as one with her blade.

It wasn’t just a feeling.

Her swordsmanship had improved by leaps and bounds.

Of course, part of it was due to leveling up and repeated combat experience, but the influence of 『Sword Heart [D]』 was undeniable.

Even now, it was the same.

『Black Wing [C]』 was assimilated with Ishia, as if it were a living organism.

From her heartbeat to her body temperature.

Everything was aligned with her.

Thanks to that, even in this tense situation, Ishia could remain calm and analyze the situation with cool reason.

‘Three enemies.’

Mantis, was it?

True to its name, it was a monster that looked almost exactly like a praying mantis.

Except it was about five meters tall.

As insects, their agility was unimaginably quick.

She’d heard they were only around level 10, but they matched her own level.

‘I’m level 23!’

It had been a week since they came up to the Second Floor.

In that time, Ishia had risen 3 levels.

Compared to the First Floor, it seemed painfully slow, but Sung Yujin seemed satisfied.

So it probably wasn’t actually that slow…

“Hup!”

Was that the price for a moment of distraction?

One of the three mantises surrounding her seized the opening and charged.

Pararararararak-!

The sound of its wings was chilling.

But even more chilling were its forelegs.

Swaaaaak-!

The sound of air being sliced was so sharp it sent a chill down her spine.

‘Damn it!’

Ishia swung her arm backward, following the guidance of 『Black Wing [C]』.

Kkang-!

The mantis’s foreleg, which had approached unnoticed, clashed with the black blade, producing a sharp noise.

Piiiiiiit-!

It seemed the mantis hadn’t expected to be blocked, as a flustered cry escaped its mouth.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Crisis was an opportunity.

Ishia didn’t hesitate, spinning 『Black Wing [C]』 and slashing at its neck.

Chwaaaaaak-!

Head and body separated.

Green fluid gushed out, but she didn’t dodge.

Her body was already too filthy to care.

“Now!”

Ishia, who had hidden herself in the fountain of bodily fluids, shouted.

At the same time, a large hole was punched through the chest of the mantis that had been charging from the left.

Peok-!

A large hole, 30 centimeters in diameter.

Through it, Park Jihu’s gauntlet was visible.

One left.

Ishia’s sword sliced through the air, piercing between the eyes of the flustered mantis.

Puuk-.

It felt like stabbing a knife through melted butter.

The insect’s unique eyes looked at Ishia, but only for a moment.

Soon, the creature lost the light in its eyes and fell backward.

Kuuung-!

Their corpses would become part of this massive jungle, providing nutrients for countless lives.

“Hoo-.”

Ishia wiped the green fluid off her sword and turned her head.

She saw Park Jihu, looking just as tattered and filthy as she did.

“Good work.”

At her words, he shrugged his shoulders.

He’d always been the quiet type, but after coming to the Second Floor, he’d become even more silent.

For some reason, she saw an overlap with the man who had bought her a meal at [Starlight Wanderer].

‘Is he going to be okay?’

She was starting to worry.

But seeing the glint in his eyes during hunts, it might have been an unnecessary concern.

He had just become quieter—his eyes were not those of someone who had given up to despair.

Rather, the more he fought, the more vitality he seemed to gain.

He must really love fighting.

“Where’s that crazy Mister?”

“Over there.”

Park Jihu pointed with his finger.

A thicket so massive it was embarrassing to even call it a bush.

Beyond it, a chilling magical energy emanated.

“Huh? He’s still fighting? That monster?”

Unlike on the First Floor, where they’d only watched the battles, here Eugene was actively hunting.

No, he was even more enthusiastic.

While they caught 10, he’d come back with around 50.

That didn’t just mean he hunted faster.

He hunted longer and more seriously.

Sung Yujin was literally hunting like a madman.

Thanks to that, his level was nearing 30.

He could swat away the mantises they’d just been fighting like they were peanuts.

And he was still fighting?

“Well, maybe he’s fighting a boss?”

Otherwise, there was no reason for that monster to drag things out this long.

“Want to go take a look?”

They’d already finished their quota for the day.

It was about time to head back to the campsite anyway.

Ishia decided to take the opportunity to check on what Sung Yujin was doing.

Pushing through weeds taller than her, she felt a sharpness that seemed to pierce her skin.

‘What the hell is he fighting?’

It was so sharp that it felt even colder than the edge of 『Black Wing [C]』.

Maybe he really was fighting a boss.

‘I was joking, though.’

Ishia swallowed dryly and carefully stepped forward.

Paaaaaat-!

At that moment, a massive magical energy exploded out, sweeping the surroundings.

“Jihu!”

Park Jihu, who was relatively light, couldn’t withstand it and his feet left the ground!

Ishia instinctively grabbed his hand and looked ahead.

“Whoa, holy shit!”

Her eyes went wide.

She couldn’t help it.

Because Sung Yujin was fighting.

And in a serious manner she’d never seen from him before.

‘Who’s the opponent?’

The 『Fire Dragon Sword [E]』, a shabby weapon, cleaved through the space, and the being that blocked it came into view.

The administrator of the Tower, the one called the Reaper of the tutorial floor.

“…Didaskalia?”

That disgusting wide chest plate was visible.

“Die, you son of a bitch.”

Eugene’s blade flashed once more.