I Became a Hunter with the Heavenly Slaughter Star Trait. - Chapter 8
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 8
Episode 8
“Huh? Lee Tae-pyeong?”
When I turned my head.
There was an unexpected person there.
A muscular beauty with a black ponytail.
The Butcher, Ban Hae-yeong.
South Korea’s greatest and worst battle maniac.
She’s famous as a hunter who constantly goes in and out of the tower.
Whether she’s addicted to dopamine.
Or just insane.
There are roughly a thousand hunters currently surviving in South Korea.
The number fluctuates around nine hundred and ninety-something.
A thousand might seem like a lot.
But actually, there aren’t even a hundred hunters climbing Babel Tower.
Among them, if you were to pick the top tier, one name that wouldn’t be left out.
Ban Hae-yeong.
‘If it’s Ban Hae-yeong, she’s tower-class so she must have a lot of money…’
Why is she at the dormitory?
“Oh, you know me! Right?”
“Uh, ah, yes. I know you…”
When I answered awkwardly.
“Of course he’d recognize you.”
The man next to her scolded Ban Hae-yeong.
He has a cold impression, but he’s also incredibly handsome.
“Sorry for interrupting your meal.”
The man apologized to me in a polite tone.
Han Si-on.
If Ban Hae-yeong is a typical combat type.
This one is magic type.
And an incredibly smart one at that.
Based on these two, a healer, tank, and supporter are added.
A well-balanced 5-person party, you could say they’re the backbone responsible for South Korea’s peace.
“You’re called the Thousand Killer, right?”
Ban Hae-yeong pulled out the chair across from me, sat down, and asked bluntly.
“You massacred ratmen in the tutorial, killed a lizardman, and even tore apart a vampire!”
It is true.
But I didn’t expect Ban Hae-yeong to know about this.
“How did you know?”
When I asked back in bewilderment, Ban Hae-yeong burst into hearty laughter.
“The rumors are everywhere.”
“Rumors?”
Ban Hae-yeong looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Han Si-on answered for her instead.
“Yes. You’re the first newcomer in half a year.”
Ah. Right.
Usually about one person comes in every two months.
But recently, no one had passed the tutorial for about five months.
Not only did two people return alive at once.
But one of them tore apart a lizardman and vampire.
There was no way rumors wouldn’t spread.
After hearing Han Si-on’s explanation, I scratched the back of my head sheepishly.
“Compared to you two, I feel like I’m nothing…”
It’s only natural.
Ban Hae-yeong is a warrior who takes down orc hordes with her bare hands.
Han Si-on was an undead slaughterer.
To those two people, a lizardman and vampire would be nothing.
“That’s not true.”
Then, Han Si-on looked at me seriously and said.
“Displaying that level of skill in the tutorial is truly amazing.”
“Right. Tae-pyeong, you’re overflowing with the potential to become a monster!”
Both of their gazes were serious.
It didn’t seem like flattery or exaggeration.
“If I had encountered a vampire during my tutorial, I absolutely wouldn’t have been able to return alive.”
“Me too, me too.”
They’re being too serious, it’s embarrassing.
When I just awkwardly scratched the back of my head, Ban Hae-yeong burst into hearty laughter again.
“Hurry up and grow so you can join our party! We’re stuck on a section right now.”
“Come on, how could I…”
“I’m not joking. Really. Seriously. I feel like I’m going to die from frustration.”
Ban Hae-yeong pounded her chest.
Han Si-on also nodded.
“We’ve been trying for a month already. We need a different approach soon, and if it’s Lee Tae-pyeong…”
Before the atmosphere could get more serious.
“Haha, I appreciate what you’re saying, but I’m not sure if I can even get that far.”
When I laughed it off appropriately, the two didn’t bring up the topic anymore.
Both seemed disappointed, but they appeared to know that pushing further wouldn’t be a good choice.
We had some light conversation.
About what we used to do for work, and so on.
Ban Hae-yeong asked for the title, saying she’d read the webtoon I participated in.
Han Si-on comforted me, saying the Management Bureau would handle the rental scam issue.
Then they got a call and left.
Only then could I finish my meal.
Maybe because I talked more than I expected.
I’m suddenly incredibly hungry.
After emptying the plates I had piled high in the blink of an eye.
I got up from my seat again.
I need to eat more.
That truffle something steak.
And seafood stir-fried noodles.
Oh, I should get dessert after eating everything.
There was mango cake.
That and a cup of coffee would be perfect to finish with.
“Hmm hmm hmm~.”
I find myself humming without realizing it.
Hunter benefits are better than I thought, aren’t they?
* * *
The rules for using the Hunter-exclusive dormitory were very simple.
Enter the Tower at least once a year without fail.
As long as you meet that condition, you can stay in the dormitory for a year.
Everything provided is free.
Of course it is.
It’s compensation for risking your life.
It means only those who risk their lives can enjoy all of this.
I’m doing relatively well financially.
But actually, there are many Hunters with ruined lives.
So the country set conditions in its own way.
Just like with the Tutorial.
Once you’ve signed the contract.
You must enter the Tower at least once a year without fail.
It’s fine to slack off for 364 out of 365 days.
However.
Just once.
Only by clearing the Tower are those 364 days guaranteed.
When you think about it.
It might be a mayfly-like existence.
Trading your life to guarantee one year of time.
“Hmm….”
I read the Tower entry explanation on the provided tablet.
Actually, I could slack off for 364 days like this.
Then climb the Tower on the last day.
But.
If I did that, it would feel unsettling like putting off summer vacation homework.
The Tutorial ended easier than expected too.
And the more I learn about the Thousand Kills trait.
Should I say confidence is building?
Vaguely, it feels like it’ll work out.
“Might as well get it over with quickly since I have to do it anyway.”
Right.
Let’s do it.
And rest comfortably for the remaining year!
I pressed the climbing application button.
Another explanation appeared.
There were two types of climbing applications.
Solo application for challenging alone.
And party application for challenging with other Hunters.
This is quite important.
Depending on whether you apply solo or as a party.
The type of dungeon that appears also changes.
It’s basically random.
But it’s broadly divided into two branches.
“Party….”
The faces of Ban Hae-yeong and Han Si-on I saw during the day come to mind.
They told me to hurry up and grow so I could join their party.
“Hmm.”
But I’m not sure if I’d fit well in a party.
Besides.
Because of the Thousand Kills trait.
I’m not sure if it’s okay to be with other people.
What if I go crazy with bloodlust….
And attack other people instead of monsters.
That would be quite troublesome.
‘Should I try solo for now?’
As soon as I decided, I submitted a solo application.
Actually, Tower climbing is perfectly possible without submitting an application.
Since you can enter the Tower just by saying [Enter Babel Tower].
It’s not something that requires anyone’s permission.
Nevertheless, there’s one reason for submitting an application.
Because you can still die even after clearing a Tower dungeon.
Like cases where you return while injured.
In such situations, quick treatment is necessary.
Only then can you avoid death.
Not everyone can party with a healer.
And healing potions aren’t common items either.
Especially for beginners like me.
If you fill out an application before entering, an emergency team stands by for Hunters.
To respond to injury situations after clearing, or abnormal states like frenzy or confusion.
It’s similar to when returning from the Tutorial.
Few countries had such systems in place.
Should I consider being born in South Korea lucky?
‘I hope I can return safely this time too.’
Actually, I’m not worried.
Rather, I’m looking forward to it.
I want to hurry in and have a festival of slaughter….
….
….
….
…Huh?
Did I just say festival of slaughter?
No way.
Come on.
Who would look forward to a festival of slaughter when entering a dungeon?
It’s hard enough just protecting myself.
“Ughhhhh!”
I stretched to shake off the stray thoughts.
I only submitted one application.
Maybe because I looked at so many words, my body feels stiff.
I roughly looked around the room.
Then went down to the 2nd floor to eat again.
Worked out in the 3rd floor training room.
Went down to the 2nd floor to eat again.
Soaked my body in hot water.
Even performed a solemn ritual cleansing.
“Cool….”
I fell asleep on a bed wider than the house I used to live in.
I fell asleep on a bed that was bigger than the house I used to live in.
* * *
The next day.
Perhaps because I had submitted the application, I got a call from the morning.
A confirmation call asking if I really intended to enter the Tower.
Usually people spend a year lounging around before reluctantly entering the Tower.
They probably thought I had done such a thing while drunk.
“Yes. I’m going.”
At my clean answer, the other party seemed to have nothing to say.
They just told me how to get to the Entry Hall located underground and hung up.
I did some light stretching.
Then went downstairs to eat breakfast.
Another incredible quality buffet today.
Should I start lightly with some soup?
I loaded up on bread.
Then filled a bowl the size of a cold noodle bowl with plenty of soup.
Cream soup with mushrooms.
It’s excellent eaten with bread richly infused with butter aroma.
Can’t leave out the vegetables either.
Plenty of various vegetables too.
Cheese omelet and grilled sausage.
Delicious!
But feeling like this alone wasn’t quite enough,
I ended up polishing off a bowl of hot Korean beef bone soup with rice mixed in.
Ah, now I feel like I’ve actually eaten something.
Since I was downstairs, I leisurely looked around the lobby.
When it was time, I headed to the Tower Entry Hall.
The Entry Hall installed underground in preparation for various accidents.
As soon as I entered, an official who had been waiting for me provided guidance.
“Mr. Lee Tae-pyeong, you’re confirmed for 1st floor entry today. Is that correct?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“This is your first time entering the Tower after returning from the tutorial…”
The official hesitates for a moment.
“How about trying a party first?”
Hm?
Suddenly a party?
‘Ah…’
Memories from the training center come back.
-Low levels are recommended to use parties matched by the Management Bureau.
Back then I was too focused on tutorial training, so I had forgotten.
Parties are recommended until reaching at least level 10.
Solo has a higher mortality rate after all.
The government finds each Hunter precious, so naturally they have no choice but to recommend parties.
But it’s just a recommendation, as the name implies.
Not mandatory.
“Mm, I’m fine.”
The official looked quite surprised.
For low levels, parties come first without exception.
That was the natural course of action.
But my thinking was different.
Thinking back to the previous tutorial…
In my case, solo is definitely better.
“…I understand. Then I’ll continue guiding you.”
I followed the official’s guidance and moved inside.
It’s a space similar to the tutorial, but feels more comfortable.
For one, there are no restraints on the chair.
I sat in something like a plush massage chair and listened to the entry method explanation once again.
The precautions for return are similar.
An emergency team is on standby in preparation for various situations.
You can be subdued if in a state of frenzy or chaos.
And so on.
After hearing various explanations.
They finally ask about my intention to enter.
Of course.
“Yes.”
My answer is the same.
“I’m going in.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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