An F-Rank Veterinarian Physically Heals an S-Rank Magical Beast - Chapter 34

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 34
“The surgery is complete. Open your eyes.”
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I peeled off my latex gloves as I spoke.
The elderly man sitting in the wheelchair before the dilapidated cottage trembled as his weathered fingers touched his eyelids.
Darkness that had sealed shut for thousands of years.
The curse of ‘blindness’ bestowed by the divine.
An absolute shackle that no priest or mage had ever been able to break.
And yet a mere human doctor had undone it?
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‘This is a lie. Nothing but a charlatan’s trick.’
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Doubt flooding his mind, the old man slowly opened his eyes.
Whoooosh—!
The world rushed in. Brilliant sunlight, verdant grass leaves swaying in the breeze—though admittedly sparse since I’d plucked most of them—and before him, the face of a man in a white coat.
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“Ah… ah….”
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An exclamation burst from the old man’s lips.
He could see.
Colors, shapes, light—he could see them all.
The damaged optic nerves had reconnected as if by magic, and the rotted eyeballs now gleamed with crystalline transparency like new.
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“Is this… what the world looks like?”
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The old man collapsed to the ground, clutching at the soil.
Tears and mucus streamed down his face in an indistinguishable torrent.
Thousands of years of sorrow were washing away in this singular moment.
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[Hidden Quest ‘The Primordial Patient’ (1/??) Cleared!]
[Reward: Prophet’s Eye (S-Rank) Skill Book, Tower Blueprint Fragment (1)]
[Renown significantly increased.]
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A System Message materialized before my eyes.
The rewards were quite generous.
But I wasn’t satisfied.
System rewards were one thing; the medical fees were another matter entirely.
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“Now then, save the emotional moments for later. We need to settle your bill, don’t we?”
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Jinhyuk presented the invoice.
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“Eye reconstruction surgery, curse removal fee, and house call charges included… that comes to a total of 10 billion Gold. If you don’t have cash, I’ll accept goods in kind.”
“10 billion…?”
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The old man stared up at Jinhyuk in a daze.
The moment of emotional impact shattered like glass.
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“Don’t think it’s too expensive. This is a technique for dispelling divine curses—at this price, I’m practically giving it away. Those treasure chests stacked behind the cabin earlier, if you hand those over, we’ll call it even.”
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Jinhyuk had already taken note of them.
Bribes and tributes accumulated by the old man in his role as gatekeeper, offerings left by challengers who had come before.
Among them were artifacts of ancient relic-grade quality scattered throughout.
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“Ha, hehe… you’re an amusing one, aren’t you?”
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The old man chuckled softly.
He staggered to his feet and fixed Jinhyuk with a steady gaze.
His pupils gleamed with a mysterious violet light.
The power of a prophet had awakened.
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“You are drawn to wealth, yet your vessel is far too vast to be filled by mere gold. I see the shadow standing behind you. Gods and demons, and even the vengeful spirits of a fallen world….”
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The old man’s expression grew grave.
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“I am the Prophet Haren. I have been tasked with guarding Floor 1 of this tower and selecting those worthy of passage. In repayment for restoring my sight, I shall grant you a glimpse of your future.”
“My future? If it’s lottery numbers, I’m all ears.”
“This is no time for jesting! The future I see for you is… [Ruin].”
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Haren’s voice rose.
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“As you ascend the tower, you will incur the wrath of countless gods. The tower’s master watches you closely, and the moment you reach Floor 33, you are destined to be betrayed by the one you trusted most—a blade through your heart.”
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A chilling prophecy. Most would have been terrified, but Jinhyuk let out a derisive snort.
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“Betrayal on Floor 33? Ah, you’re talking about Luna secretly swiping my corporate card, aren’t you?”
“Jinhyuk! It’s not me!”
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Luna, who had been organizing luggage nearby, sprang up indignantly.
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“Just kidding. Elder, the future isn’t predetermined. I create it myself. And ‘betrayal’? Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll simply prepare accordingly.”
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Jinheok dismissed the matter casually and began ransacking the treasure chest.
A golden helmet, mana stone necklace, ancient grimoire—he passed the useful items to Luna and swept the rest into his inventory.
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“By the way, Haren. Your eyes are healed now, so why not retire from here?”
“Retire? I am bound to the Tower’s system. I cannot leave this place.”
“Who said anything about leaving? I’m suggesting a change of position.”
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Jinheok drove a sign post into the ground beside the cabin.
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[Arcana Hospital Babel Tower Branch 1 – Reception Desk]
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“From now on, collect an entrance fee—or rather, a ‘health examination fee’—from any Hunters passing through here. With your prophetic abilities, if you tell them ‘you’re destined to get hurt today,’ they’ll all buy at least one potion. Revenue split: seventy-thirty. Obviously, I get the seventy.”
“You’re asking me to become a peddler?”
“A peddler? No, a ‘Risk Management Consultant.’ I’ll provide room and board, plus enroll you in the four major insurance schemes. Will you do it, or should I close your eyes again?”
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As Jinheok snapped his fingers in mock threat, Haren exhaled deeply.
After millennia, he had finally found light.
He could not return to darkness.
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“Sigh… Fine. Alright. Let’s give it a shot.”
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Thus, the legendary prophet Haren became the manager of Jinheok’s “Tower of Babel Branch 1.”
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“Excellent. Contract sealed. Now, shall we head to Floor 2?”
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Jinheok looked up at the sky.
At the end of Floor 1 stood a colossal staircase ascending toward the heavens.
A spiraling staircase that pierced through the clouds, its end invisible.
An ordinary Hunter would need to climb for days and nights to ascend those stairs.
Aerial monster attacks were an added hazard along the way.
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“Luna. Could we walk up that?”
“Hmm… it’s possible, but we’d consume provisions and it would be physically taxing. It would take at least three days.”
“Right? Time is money. I can’t waste three days trudging along a road.”
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Jinheok retrieved the [Tower Blueprint Fragment] he had just obtained from his pocket.
Then he pulled out [Mage Engineering Kit] and [Goblin Construction Worker Summon Voucher] from his inventory.
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“Haren, lend us some of your magical power.”
“What? What are you planning to do?”
“Tower remodeling. The stairs are far too outdated.”
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Jinhyuk grinned wickedly.
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“We need to install an elevator.”
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[SYSTEM WARNING!]
[Structural modifications are prohibited in this sector.]
[Administrator authority required.]
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The system window flashed crimson.
But Jinhyuk paid it no mind.
He inserted the temporary administrator card he’d received from Judge—marked for insurance fraud investigations—into the slot.
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[Administrator code verified. Partial authority granted.]
[What would you like to construct?]
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“A vertical transport device connecting Floor 1 directly to Floor 2. Power source: the concentrated mandrake root extract we harvested earlier.”
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At Jinhyuk’s command, the goblin workers moved with perfect synchronization.
Clang, clang.
The goblins installed a massive mana tube beside the skeletal remains of the staircase.
Haren stood nearby, channeling his magical power while clicking his tongue in disbelief.
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“Madman… I’ve never seen anyone tear apart the Tower’s structure like this.”
“If it’s inconvenient, it needs fixing. There—construction complete.”
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In just one hour, a high-speed elevator of transparent glass-tube design had materialized.
It was a miracle born from magic, engineering, and labor exploitation(?)
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“Shall we board?”
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Jinhyuk and Luna stepped into the elevator.
As he pressed the button, a whirring sound erupted, and they began ascending at breathtaking speed.
Whoooosh—!
The landscape of Floor 1 shrank to a speck beyond the glass.
Other hunters from different parties, who had been laboriously climbing the stairs, watched the glass tube streak past and stood slack-jawed.
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“Huh? What just passed by?”
“What is that! An elevator?”
“Hey! Take us with you!”
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The Hunters shouted, but the elevator had already vanished above the clouds.
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“Quite pleasant. Is there no in-flight service?”
“I’ll buy you something delicious when we arrive. Floor 2 is supposed to be a rather noisy place.”
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Ding—!
The doors slid open with a cheerful arrival chime.
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[You have arrived at Floor 2: Labyrinth of Silence.]
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The moment my feet touched Floor 2, I felt it—a suffocating silence.
Walls of mirrors on all sides.
A maze with no discernible end.
And across the floor lay a magical formation that resembled a ‘noise meter.’
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[Warning: If you produce noise exceeding 30 decibels (dB), ‘Acoustic Hunters’ will swarm you.]
[Please converse in whispers.]
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“Shh.”
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I pressed my index finger to my lips.
This place was where sound meant death.
Every footstep, every breath, every clink of equipment became bait that summoned monsters.
In the distance, I could see Hunters from another party crawling forward, drenched in sweat.
They had removed their shoes and held them in their hands, treading carefully in their socks.
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“There… watch your… feet….”
“Got it… ugh!”
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One Hunter accidentally struck their elbow against the mirrored wall.
Thud.
A small sound, but in this silent space, it thundered like a deafening boom.
Shrieeeek—!
Pitch-black shadows erupted from within the mirrors.
A monster with a mouth split ear to ear—[Silence Stalker].
They pinpointed the source of the sound with precision and tore into the Hunter’s throat.
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“Ahhhhh! Help me!”
“Run! Escape!”
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In an instant, chaos erupted.
The more people screamed, the more monsters converged—a vicious cycle of terror.
Luna clutched at my sleeve, trembling violently.
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[Sir, what do we do? We can’t use the amplifier here.]
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Luna’s eyes pleaded silently for an answer.
I smiled faintly and retrieved something from my inventory.
It was neither the fuzzy indoor slippers nor the Potion of Silence.
It was the Magic Pen.
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
I began writing something on the mirrored wall.
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[Directions provided.]
[100% safety guaranteed. Silent passage assured.]
[Inquiries: Knock on this wall three times.]
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“…?”
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Luna’s expression turned bewildered.
Sound meant death, yet I was telling her to knock on a wall?
But I had a different plan in mind.
I intended to summon the boss of Floor 2—the master of this labyrinth itself.
Playing tag with minions was a waste of time.
Knock, knock, knock.
I rapped directly on the wall.
The mirror’s surface rippled like water, and a figure identical to me glided smoothly through.
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[Floor 2 Ruler: Doppelganger King]
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This creature didn’t merely replicate a challenger’s appearance—it could partially copy their abilities and memories as well, making it a formidable boss.
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“Ho… how presumptuous. Summoning me of your own accord.”
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The Doppelganger King’s lips curled into a sinister smile.
Every inflection of his voice, every nuance of his expression—perfectly identical to mine.
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“You are me. I know every skill you possess, every strategy you’ve devised. Do you truly believe you can defeat me?”
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As the Doppelganger King extended his hand, a duplicate of my signature weapon—the Twin Dragon Blades—materialized before us.
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“Oh, really? You know everything about me?”
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I folded my arms and tilted my head with a slight smile.
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“Then let’s see you copy me properly. Don’t just mimic my appearance—replicate my very essence.”
“Hmph, if you insist. [Synchronization] initiated!”
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The Doppelganger King’s eyes blazed with intensity.
He began diving into my consciousness, extracting every fragment of data he could access.
Physical capabilities, magical reserves, skill inventories… and even the psychological data I carried within.
Whirrrrrrr—!
A loading bar materialized above the Doppelganger King’s head.
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[10%… 30%… 50%…]
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The Doppelganger King’s expression, initially composed, began to contort with each passing moment.
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“What…? What is this?”
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[70%… 80%…]
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The Doppelganger King’s legs trembled violently.
Cold sweat poured from his body like rain.
What he had replicated was far more than my raw power.
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[Replicated Data Registry]
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3-Tier Integrated Medical Insurance administrative duties: handling complaints from 3.5 million subscribers, processing endless insurance claims daily.
VIP management: appeasing SSS-rank problem customers like Michael, Mammon, and Asura, fulfilling their absurd demands (find new wing shampoo, craft a golden toothbrush, etc.).
Friction with the System Management Bureau: submitting 500-page operational reports to Inspector Judge every single day.
Hospital operations: employee salaries, pharmaceutical inventory management, tax calculations…
Hidden Quest: the crushing pressure of preventing world annihilation.
All of this immense “occupational stress” and “exhaustion” transmitted directly into the Doppelganger King’s mind.
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“Ahhhhhhh! My head! My head is splitting!”
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The Doppelganger King dropped his sword and clutched his head in his hands.
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“No! The documents… the documents are burying me! Mammon called! If I don’t answer, I’m dead!”
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The Doppelganger King thrashed on the ground, convulsing in panic.
He was a “freeloader” who had spent his entire existence in this labyrinth, delighting in startling Hunters while living a carefree life.
For such a creature, the workload of a South Korean office worker—and worse, a cosmic-scale entrepreneur—was a catastrophe beyond endurance.
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“How’s that? My life pretty intense, huh?”
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I crouched down and patted the Doppelganger King’s shoulder.
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“Since you cloned me, you can handle my work too, right? Perfect timing. I haven’t been sleeping lately—been swamped.”
“N-no! I refuse! Cancel! Desynchronize me!”
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The Doppelganger King scrambled backward. My eyes must have looked demonic to him.
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“Where are you going? You took my abilities, so you bear the responsibility. Here—3,000 approval documents. Process them by today.”
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I pulled a stack of documents from my inventory (really just a bundle of blank paper) and hurled them at him.
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“Kyaaaah!”
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The Doppelganger King shrieked in terror and tried to flee into the mirror. But it was already too late.
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“Luna, seal the exit.”
“Yes, sir!”
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Luna sealed the mirror exit with magic.
A rat trapped in a barrel… or rather, a Doppelganger King trapped in one.
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“P-please! I’ll do anything! Just don’t make me work!”
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The Doppelganger King fell to his knees, begging desperately.
A bizarre scene—a boss pleading with a Hunter not to assign him work.
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“Spare you? Hmm…”
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I stroked my chin thoughtfully, pretending to consider it.
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“Fine. I’ll let you live. But there’s a condition.”
“W-what condition? Items? Skills? I’ll give you anything!”
“No, I don’t need those.”
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I pointed my finger at the walls of the labyrinth.
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“This maze is too complicated. The customers—the other Hunters—are stressed out trying to find their way. You’re going to become the ‘navigation’ here.”
“I… what?”
“You have shapeshifting abilities, don’t you? Transform into an arrow sign and guide them to the exit. And hand over the key to Floor 3 without complaint.”
“B-but my pride…”
“Pride? Oh, would you rather return to work? Michael has seven missed calls waiting for you right now.”
“A sign! I’ll become a sign! Being a sign has been my dream since birth!”
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The Doppelganger immediately twisted its body, transforming into a massive [red arrow →] shape.
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[Floor 2 Boss ‘Doppelganger King’ has been subdued.]
[Floor 2 Clear!]
[Achievement Unlocked: ‘Ruthless Employer’]
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The mirrors throughout the labyrinth simultaneously lost their luster, becoming ordinary glass.
All the monsters vanished as well.
The once-silent labyrinth had become nothing less than my private property.
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“Alright, everyone! The path is clear!”
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I raised a megaphone and shouted. The Hunters who had been trembling in the corners cautiously poked their heads out.
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“Huh? The monsters are gone?”
“What’s with that arrow?”
“It’s a direct guide to the exit. The fee is 5,000 Gold per person! Dirt cheap!”
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I set up a ticket booth next to the arrow.
The Hunters were bewildered, but the prospect of escape had them rushing forward with their payment.
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“Thank you! Thank you!”
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Watching the Hunters dash away with their coins spent, I smiled with satisfaction.
Luna approached, shaking her head in disbelief.
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“Jinhyuk… you truly possess business acumen that would make even demons weep.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Shall we head out? I wonder what awaits on Floor 3.”
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Jinhyuk and Luna took the “Floor 3 Key” that the Doppelganger King had produced and leisurely made their way toward the exit.
Behind them, the Doppelganger King, now transformed into an arrow, could be heard muttering, “Please, anything but overtime…”
Tower of Babel.
This place, known as the realm of gods, was gradually transforming into nothing more than a colossal “theme park” and “shopping mall” in Jinhyuk’s eyes.
But they remained unaware.
From Floor 3 onward, no mere monsters or traps awaited them—only true trials that tested the “desires” of Hunters.
And the administrator of those trials was watching Jinhyuk intently.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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