Copying Runes to Become the World's Strongest - Chapter 44

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

Chapter 44
Primordial Tower?
Hyeonjun tilted his head.
It was a name written on one of the ingredients for the Void Liberation Elixir.
‘So there’s a place called the Primordial Tower on its own?’
A tower other than the Tower, of all things.
He had never heard anything like that.
‘I figured even the Primordial Tower Fragment would drop from a regular tower, despite the name.’
Apparently not.
That means the Clear guides might end up being useless.
If the towers are different in kind, their insides must be different too.
‘Well, it doesn’t really matter.’
It would be more dangerous, but he had already braced himself for everything when he decided to do this.
Hyeonjun declared his resolve to enter without a moment’s hesitation.
“I’m going in.”
[ The user has not been granted entry permission to the .]
[Moving to the designated location to acquire permission.]
Darkness swallowed his vision at once.
When he opened his eyes again.
Hyeonjun found himself facing a scene he knew well.
‘That’s the place from before.’
A desert stretching endlessly in every direction.
In its midst, an obelisk stood tall and alone.
It was the place he had been transported to when he visited his mother’s hospital room after so long and made contact with her, triggering the mysterious skills Illusion Realization and Soul Leap.
“It’s exactly the same as that day.”
The scenery from that day, seared deep into his memory.
A sky thick with viscous darkness.
A blood-red moonlight lighting up the world.
Even seeing it again, the scene sent a chill down his spine.
“The tower’s still here, too.”
The gloom of the tower, felt even from a distance.
Creeping vines covering the cracks of the obelisk made the atmosphere even more ominous.
“So it really exists.”
Back then, he had crossed over by way of the Illusion Realization skill, so he had kept thinking of it as nothing but an illusion.
But today made it clear that this was no illusion that didn’t exist.
“Then does that person from back then exist too?”
The owner of the dark red hair he had seen at the time.
He looked around, but there wasn’t a trace of them.
“I’d like to ask what this tower actually is…”
Hyeonjun left his regret behind and walked toward the tower.
He had come here to acquire entry permission for the tower, so naturally he had to lay a hand on it.
‘Last time, touching the tower gave me the Discernment skill, so this time should be similar.’
Before long, Hyeonjun stopped in front of the tower.
He pushed aside the thick vines and placed his hand on the cracked surface.
[The is reviewing the user’s qualifications.]
[The has been recognized.]
[Entry permission to the is being granted to the user.]
“Gah!”
Hyeonjun jerked back and yanked his hand off the tower.
A searing heat spread across the back of his hand.
Something began to take shape in black lines, as if a rod heated red-hot were branding him.
“…An eye?”
It wasn’t just any eye.
Along the inner edge of the pupil, a familiar set of characters was carved.
They were characters carved into runes, which made them Rune Script.
They looked like words stretched out in a row, and yet they also looked like sentences.
“What does it say?”
Deciphering Rune Script has been painfully slow.
All that’s been uncovered is the alphabet denoting Rank and a handful of words.
People have tried to interpret it based on the characters on Skill Runes and the information the System provides, and those efforts have continued steadily, but so far there’s been no result worth mentioning.
“I hope it’s not something important.”
This must be the Entry Permission for the tower.
If what’s written here is some kind of warning, I’d be in serious trouble.
“Huh, it’s gone.”
The Primordial Eye mark faded slowly, as if soaking into his skin.
Before long, even on close inspection, only a faint outline remained.
“So it’s not a tattoo.”
Hyeonjun, inwardly relieved, looked up at the tower.
An obelisk that climbed without end.
He had raised his hand toward it again to enter the tower, but stopped short.
“Better get ready before going in.”
He pulled equipment out of his backpack and put it on.
He was fully armed, down to his armor.
“Water and emergency rations, too.”
Hyeonjun had originally planned to head to a D-Grade Hunting Ground.
Since it would be his first time at a D-Grade Hunting Ground, he had come fully prepared for any unforeseen situation.
“Alright. Let’s give it a try.”
With his preparations complete, Hyeonjun was ready.
He immediately placed his hand on the tower.
[Do you wish to enter the <Primordial Tower>?]
“Enter.”
[Entry Permission for the <Primordial Tower> confirmed.]
[Entering the <Primordial Tower>.]
.
.
.
[You have entered Floor 1 of the <Primordial Tower>.]
[The <Tutorial> is beginning.]
[The <First Scenario> has begun.]
[<Floor 1 Mission> has been added.]
Chirp, chirp.
A forest bathed in warm sunlight.
Birds sang peacefully, and a cool breeze rustled through the foliage of the trees.
“So this is what it feels like.”
Before he could even register it, Hyeonjun had been transported inside the tower in an instant.
If I had to compare it to video, it’s a difference of just one frame, you could say.
Quite literally, it had been a split second.
“So it really is different from a regular tower.”
Hyeonjun looked around.
An unfamiliar forest, thick with trees.
Normally, Floor 1 of a tower is empty.
You enter, a hunting mission is given to you, and once you accept it, the Monster targeted by that mission appears. A simple structure.
“I wonder if it’s similar here?”
Hyeonjun checked his mission.
[Floor 1 Mission]
<Deal with the Nuisance of Initium Village>
“A village?”
A village, of all things.
There’s something like that in a tower?
Rustle.
Just then, a presence made itself felt from behind.
Hyeonjun turned around.
A boy was standing in the bushes.
‘If there’s a village, there should be people, I suppose…’
Still, he was quite taken aback.
A person inside a tower?
Even if this tower was different from the original, he’d never imagined someone would appear.
“Who are you, mister?”
The child with black hair and black eyes asked Hyeonjun.
For some reason, it was a familiar language.
The child was speaking in Korean.
At that, Hyeonjun reached a conclusion: the child’s existence was the result of the Tower’s system at work.
‘It’s not a real person. It’s an illusion the Tower has realized.’
A child couldn’t have learned Korean, surely.
Right from the start, the way he was dressed, like a commoner from some medieval age, didn’t fit with modern South Korea.
Hyeonjun could take in the situation with a good deal more composure now.
“I asked who you are, mister?”
The child pressed the question again.
Hyeonjun hesitated, then it suddenly dawned on him that the kid was speaking casually to him.
“How old are you? Are you going to keep talking down to me?”
“You can talk down to me too, mister.”
The brat looked like he was barely a middle schooler, yet he shot back without a hint of hesitation.
‘Though he was created by the system, does he have autonomy in his thoughts and actions?’
So a reaction like this was possible.
I suppose I can take him as an NPC with remarkably advanced AI.
“Do you talk like that to your mom too?”
“I don’t have a mom.”
For a moment Hyeonjun faltered, but thinking he couldn’t afford to back down, he pressed forward with sheer force.
“So what? If you don’t want to get smacked, use honorifics.”
As he said it, he raised his fist and struck the tree beside him with all his might.
A tree that was relatively slender compared to the others snapped in half and tilted over.
‘When it comes to teaching kids, nothing works faster than a show of strength.’
The tree came down with a heavy thud.
The boy’s eyes went wide, and he clapped his hands in admiration.
“Wow… you’re super strong, mister.”
“If you don’t use honorifics, this fist is going to land right on you.”
At those words, the boy flinched and trembled.
He wet his lips and nodded vigorously.
“O-okay, I got it. I won’t talk casually anymore.”
“What’s your name?”
“It’s Derek.”
“I’m Ko Hyeonjun. I’m on an adventure.”
The boy who introduced himself as Derek held out his hand to Hyeonjun.
“When you greet someone, you’re supposed to shake hands.”
“Ah, right.”
Hyeonjun took Derek’s hand and shook it.
“I have a favor to ask you, mister.”
Derek started talking the moment his hand was released.
Hyeonjun sensed instantly that this was a hint related to the mission.
“What is it?”
“Goblins have set up camp near where I live. The grown-ups said they’d deal with them, but they’ve been sitting there for weeks now.”
Goblins.
So it seems they’re the thorn in Initium Village’s side.
It looked like it wouldn’t be hard to resolve.
“You want me to help?”
“Yes. Please make the men in our village stronger.”
“…Not just to hunt the goblins?”
“Monsters might come again later, you know. When that happens, you won’t be around, so the grown-ups need to learn how to protect the village themselves.”
Hyeonjun was a little surprised.
Instead of having someone catch the fish for them, he was asking to be taught how to catch fish.
It was an uncommon insight for a boy his age.
‘But teaching takes a long time, doesn’t it.’
Either way, the mission was to resolve the village’s thorn.
Hyeonjun indirectly signaled that he would decline.
“I’m not strong enough to teach anyone, so to speak. But hunting goblins, I can do that.”
“Is that so? It’s a shame, but I guess there’s no helping it.”
“Where are the goblins?”
“Talk to the village chief first. I’ll take you there.”
Hyeonjun followed Derek down a gentle forest path for a long while.
The place they arrived at was a steep hill.
It was a spot where the whole village came into view.
“We’re here.”
“You came all this way?”
For a boy like Derek, that was quite a distance.
Hyeonjun wiped the sweat from his brow and surveyed the village.
‘It’s not very big.’
Maybe fifty people, tops.
I could see why goblins were giving them trouble, judging by the size of the place.
‘How many people here could fight properly?’
As expected, there wasn’t a single wall.
There wasn’t even a bridge across the river.
“How many people are in the village?”
“42 people. Oh, and Yenika gave birth yesterday, so make it 43.”
“How many can fight?”
“Last time, thirteen went out to hunt the goblins, and only twelve came back.”
Twelve. Probably the number of young men capable of fighting.
The rest must be women, children, or elderly.
“Oh, there’s the village chief.”
Derek bounced up and waved his hand.
“Village Chief!”
He was leaning dangerously far, looking like he might slide right down the hill.
When the chief spotted Derek, he jolted so visibly that even from a distance it was obvious.
-D-Derek! Don’t run!
“Whoa!”
Just then, the dirt under Derek’s feet crumbled.
He tilted straight over.
Hyeonjun flung himself forward and snatched Derek up.
‘Thank goodness it wasn’t that high.’
Thud.
Hyeonjun landed lightly.
Thanks to absorbing the impact, the sound wasn’t loud at all.
“Is that how you’re supposed to run around?”
“Thank you.”
Derek replied calmly, as if nothing had happened.
He had nearly suffered a serious accident, yet he was perfectly serene.
Hyeonjun narrowed his eyes.
“You were testing me, weren’t you?”
“The tree might have been weak, so I wanted to check. I’m sorry if it bothered you.”
“It didn’t bother me, but don’t do that again. You’ll really get hurt that way.”
“Okay.”
Derek answered obediently and slipped down from Hyeonjun’s arms.
“Derek!”
The village chief came rushing over at once.
Behind him, men carrying tools came running as well.
Some of them were leaning on crutches.
“Hello, Village Chief.”
Derek grinned sheepishly at the chief.
The chief frantically waved Derek over.
“Come over here!”
“He’s not an enemy.”
“Derek! Stop talking back and get over here already!”
At the adults’ words, Derek pouted and shuffled over.
The adults pulled him behind them.
The chief fixed Hyeonjun with a sharp stare and asked.
“I’m grateful you saved Derek, but who exactly are you? Do you have some business in a village as humble as this?”
“Village Chief, he said he’s an adventurer. I met him up in the mountains, and he offered to take care of the goblins.”
“What? The goblins?”
The chief looked Hyeonjun up and down with suspicion.
The others, too, murmured as they took in his attire.
“Judging by that armor, he does seem to be an adventurer.”
“But doesn’t he look too weak?”
“And his armor is too pristine. He looks like a newbie.”
“Can a novice adventurer even make it this far?”
Hyeonjun’s armor still looked brand new.
Relying on his agility, he fought so well that he never once clashed with the enemies at all.
“Are you really an adventurer?”
Amid the endless suspicion, the village chief finally spoke up.
Hyeonjun nodded.
“I am.”
“Adventurers demand a fitting reward for their deeds. But as you can see, our village has little to offer.”
A shabby village.
It didn’t look like there was anything here worth a single coin.
“I don’t need any reward. Helping people who are suffering is what anyone with strength should do.”
Hyeonjun’s answer set the villagers murmuring.
“Can he really mean that?”
“Most of the ones who talk big are full of hot air.”
“Wouldn’t be surprised if he stabs us in the back.”
“Everyone, quiet.”
At the chief’s sharp warning, the villagers clamped their mouths shut.
He studied Hyeonjun with a complicated expression.
“So there are still people who do good deeds without expecting anything in return. Still, many only talk the talk, so I hope you’ll forgive us for not trusting you easily.”
“That’s understandable. The world is a dangerous place.”
I couldn’t say whether this world really is so dangerous.
Judging by how suspicious he was, though, I figured it probably was.
“Thank you for understanding. I am Kassel, the chief of Initium Village.”
Only belatedly did the chief lower his head slightly, belatedly observing courtesy.
Hyeonjun bowed his head in return.
“I’m just a passing adventurer. If you show me where the goblins are, I’ll take care of them right away.”
“Hmm… Very well. I’ll draw you a map at home. Follow me.”
Hyeonjun followed Chief Kassel toward his house.
The villagers kept their guard up to the very end, trailing after Hyeonjun.
‘I feel like a criminal being led away.’
I understood their caution, but it was still not a pleasant experience.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
Soon they arrived at the chief’s house.
As he waited outside, the chief soon came out holding a sheet of paper with a map drawn on it.
“You should be able to get the gist from this.”
“I’ll go take care of it right away.”
“It isn’t just a place with goblins. Be careful of the Goblin Lord.”
[Mission Update Notice]
[Floor 1 Mission]
<Dealing with Initium Village’s Nuisance>
-Wipe out the goblin horde that has settled near the village
-Defeat the Goblin Lord
-Receive confirmation from the village chief
The mission has been newly updated.
‘A Goblin Lord, huh.’
That’s no ordinary creature.
After all, it’s the leader that rules over a band of goblins.
‘If there’s a monster like that, how could it be just a goblin horde?’
Unless it were a Hob Goblin, perhaps.
The presence of a Goblin Lord means that all the goblins that had settled in one area have gathered there.
It would be more accurate to call it a colony or a village rather than a horde.
‘Well, I’ll see for myself once I get there.’
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
“As proof of the kill, please bring me the head of the Goblin Lord.”
“Of course.”
Leaving behind their suspicious stares, Hyeonjun set out toward the goblin settlement.

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