I Inherited the Basement of the Tower - Chapter 38

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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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Inherited the Basement 1 of the Tower – Episode 38

“Oh? Hehe. Isn’t this Jeong Min-hee?”

Association President Yun Tae-sik acknowledged Jeong Min-hee with a familiar tone.
Gu Jang-hun beside him twitched his eyebrows.

“…I would appreciate it if you would address her with proper courtesy. Alchemist Jeong Min-hee.”

Only then did Jeong Min-hee realize she had referred to Yun Tae-sik as “Association President.”
She was about to apologize, but the Association President was quicker.
He patted Gu Jang-hun near the shoulder to stop him.

“Hmm? No, no. What’s the matter? We’re not meeting for the first time, and she’s not even an Association member. I call her Jeong Min-hee too. Just speak comfortably, Jeong Min-hee.”
“Oh, no. I’m sorry, Association President. I was flustered because I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Jeong Min-hee had left the Sage Guild after hurling insults at the Guild Master and his son.
But those were people rotten to the core, after all.
She was well aware of Association President Yun Tae-sik’s achievements.
He was someone truly worthy of respect and an extraordinary figure.
Not only for his abilities, but also for having poured his youth and health into this nation.
Since she had come to Korea with a similar resolve, she held nothing but goodwill toward the Association President.

“Did you come to see Hunter Kang Ha-jin?”

At that moment.
The Association President asked with eyes that shone with unusual clarity for his age.

“Yes. He contacted me.”
“Hmm, I see. It seems you’ve caught his interest.”
“Pardon?”

What did he mean by that?

“He asked me to compile a list, so I provided him with a roster of all domestic alchemists and blacksmiths. Take pride in that. You may very well end up saving not just our country, but perhaps the entire world someday.”

I had known about it.
The Sage Guild had also received a collaboration proposal, and Hunter Net’s production-related communities were buzzing with talk about Kang Ha-jin.
But.

“…Is that all?”

Well, I understood it was impressive.
Saving the world and all that—what did it matter.
Besides, something had been bothering me since earlier: every word used to describe Hunter Kang Ha-jin was in the highest level of respect.
His career, his age, his achievements.
Yun Tae-sik, the Association President, was in no way inferior to Kang Ha-jin in any respect.
Since I personally knew that he was not one to speak carelessly, the President’s words and manner were all the more surprising.

“Mm. That’s about right.”

He continued speaking with a face utterly devoid of any playfulness, just as I’d suspected.

“When I first established the Hunter Association in Korea, there were many who didn’t want to share even a handful of power. They threw obstacles at every turn and hindered everything. The Association you see now was built through that storm. I’ve experienced all manner of trials and tribulations. I’ve seen all sorts of people. Thanks to that, I pride myself on having a rather accurate eye for judging character.”

He patted Gu Jang-hun standing beside him affectionately once more.
At that, Gu Jang-hun scratched his chin awkwardly.

“…I’ll start the car.”

As his large frame disappeared, my view felt suddenly more open.
After exchanging farewells, I was about to head toward the elderly man waiting at the door when.

“Oh right. How is that friend Lowell doing?”

My master’s name had come up—something I couldn’t overlook.

“Tell him to visit Korea sometime. I want to let him know how much I’ve improved. I’ve been blocked by him because I pestered him so much.”
“Hehe. That’s just like you, Master.”

I found myself laughing at the Association President’s words.

“My master misses those days spent with you greatly as well. He complains about it, but he does. Those days when we climbed the Tower with only pure curiosity and a sense of justice, free from national interests.”
“…Those are days long past. Though, perhaps they might come again someday.”

He said this while glancing toward the Villa Building.
Those eyes that never faded in color, no matter how much time passed—I had seen them once before when my Master recalled the past.

“I really should take a trip to England to visit that friend sometime. Strange how I keep getting older but the work never seems to end.”
“Hehe.”

She covered her mouth and laughed.
It was because my Master’s endearing habit of speech had come to mind.

—I really should visit Korea sometime.

My Master used to say that all the time.

“Well, if I don’t go, I can just coax that friend into coming instead.”

At that moment.
A playful smile crossed Yun Tae-sik’s lips.

“That won’t be easy, will it?”
“I know. Because we’re friends. But now, I have an incredibly powerful bait.”

Jeong Min-hee’s ears perked up.
A way to draw my Master out of the workshop?

“What would that be?”
“No need for further explanation. Just deliver this name to him.”
“A name, you say….”

At that moment, Yun Tae-sik’s gaze turned toward the Villa Building once more.
This time, it was directed at a single figure standing at the main gate.

“Barkalor. That should do it.”

* * *

“Please, come inside.”

An elderly man who had guided her to a certain entrance bowed his head.

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
“Then I shall take my leave. Should you need anything, simply call upon my name.”

My name, he said.

“Ah, so you mean….”
“I am Barkalor.”

With those words, Barkalor vanished in a blur.

“…!”

She was an alchemist, and alchemy was something akin to magic’s distant cousin.
That movement just now had been magic of an astonishing caliber.

‘Barkalor?’

But it was that name itself that troubled me more.

‘Just who in the world is that old man?’

Tilting my head in confusion, I opened the front door and stepped inside.

“Tower Break? Why on earth? What’s your game, Ahn Jae-jun?”

Inside, I saw Kang Ha-jin.
He was muttering something to himself with a grave expression.
If I were to describe my first impression.

‘He’s handsome.’

Back then, when Kang Ha-jin first awakened and appeared before the world for an interview.
Even then, his face alone was my ideal type.
But my master, Lowell, had said this to me.

-Like the arrogant ones if you must, but do not love them. One day that proud nose will be broken.

Not long after Kang Ha-jin appeared in that interview boasting of conquering the Tower.
News broke that he had been released from his contract by Taesan along with a 2 billion won penalty.

-And when his nose was broken. That was the most important moment. No matter how handsome he was, a man with a loser’s face doesn’t suit anything. Attitude matters more than ability, and it always shows on one’s face.

Then, by chance, a recent photo of Kang Ha-jin taken by paparazzi was uploaded to Hunter Net.
That face was nothing short of a loser’s.
A shadowed face and the visage of someone who had given up even struggling in the darkness.
Exactly as Master Lowell had described it.
That was the precise moment Jeong Min-hee lost interest in him.
Meat?
If a mere piece of meat possessed greater effects than the elixirs and items created by alchemists, then it should be interpreted as a signal that the alchemist’s skill was insufficient and that alchemy as a discipline needed further development.
It was nothing more or less than momentum for future progress.

‘Besides, in the first place, why doesn’t anyone think to process it?’

Given the material’s property of containing sunlight, processing it wasn’t easy, but that didn’t mean it was impossible.
Research itself was never easy to begin with.
With bad luck, a single material could consume an expert’s entire lifetime.
What was wrong with that?
That was the life of a scholar and a researcher.

‘His face has changed quite a lot.’

As she observed Kang Ha-jin’s focused expression, she unconsciously swallowed hard.

The last memory surfaced—when she had asked what kind of man she should love.
He had answered as if it were obvious.

“Ah, Jeong Min-hee? I didn’t even notice you were lost in thought. Please, sit here.”

-A person who has overcome adversity.

Such a person can endure any hardship that comes their way by clinging to the memory of that triumph.

“…Yes.”

No, why was she thinking such things now?
Jeong Min-hee shook her head vigorously and took her seat.
This wasn’t a blind date.
She only hoped this place would allow her to pursue her ideals in alchemy.
That leaving the Sage Guild would prove worthwhile.

* * *

“This way, please.”

After a brief exchange.
I led Jeong Min-hee to my basement room.

Beep, beep—
Click.

The expensive front door Park Seong-cheol had installed for me opened with a loud noise.
Both the door lock and door itself were state-of-the-art.

“Here we are.”

The interior was well-maintained.
Still, I felt uncertain about showing her this room.
To be precise, I wasn’t entirely confident yet.
Aside from Park Seong-cheol’s intrusion, Jeong Min-hee standing here was the first outsider to ever enter this space.

‘Seriously, the first person being Park Seong-cheol doesn’t make any sense.’

That guy.
Next time I see him, I’m giving him an extra hit.
Then.
Jeong Min-hee’s anxious voice, tinged with bewilderment, struck my ears.

“Wait. Why exactly did you bring me here? Give me a proper explanation. Otherwise, I’m leaving.”
“Ah.”

Right.
Bringing someone I’d just met to what appeared to be my home was thoughtless of me.

“As you’ve probably guessed, this building itself is my property. I use it as a base and headquarters in addition to my residence. You can commute here from now on, Min-hee.”
“Commute—wait. What on earth do you—”

Jeong Min-hee stepped backward, her hand reaching into her handbag.
She was an alchemist.
There was no telling what terrifying thing might be inside.
This wouldn’t do.
Seeing it myself was worth more than a hundred words of explanation.

“Black Armor.”

Ding!
【Black Armor nods and opens the inventory.】

Thud.

A piece of leather, gleaming with sunlight, fell into my palm.

“W-what are you—! Huh?”

Jeong Min-hee’s motion to pull her hand out froze.
Her gaze locked onto what lay in my hand.

‘…What did I just see.’

And in that moment, I saw it too.
The terrifying thing she had been about to pull from her bag.
Jeong Min-hee was a frightening person indeed.
Making a mental note never to upset her again, I slowly extended my hand.

Whoosh!

Her hand shot toward me with surprising speed.
I quickly pulled my hand back to dodge.
As her senses returned, she looked up at me with eyes that seemed barely able to contain herself.

“Ah. I’m s-sorry. It’s been so long since I’ve seen new materials. It must be precious, and I took it without permission. I apologize.”

She rambled nervously, then quickly lowered her head, worried I might refuse to give her the new material.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.
My own tension had eased as well.
I had been worried she might reject my proposal.

‘There are many other candidates, but there’s no one like her.’

I had once asked Eltos about her, since I needed someone like her.
What do craftsmen like you prefer to work with?
Back then, Eltos tilted his head, questioning why such a question was necessary, before holding up a single Sunstone he’d been carrying.

-That would be this. New materials.

At the time, I’d dismissed it as unhelpful and teased him along with Yahwi, but it turned out to be true.
I never expected him to react this intensely.

‘I should go down later and thank him.’

Looking at Jeong Min-hee, she was still staring intently at the leather scrap in my hand.
To me it was merely a leather scrap, but to her, it appeared to be a miraculous new material that would boost her stats by thirty points.

Whoosh.

I shifted the material slightly to one side.

Snap!

She reacted immediately like a cat, turning her head.
I suppressed my laughter and led her to a corner of the room.
I had actually deliberated quite a bit about revealing the Basement to someone else.
But in the end, it came to this.
Elder Barkalor had once said there would come a day when I’d have to reveal this Basement, and it seems today is that day.
Since I’d be collaborating with Jeong Min-hee going forward, there was no way the work could proceed properly if I kept the Basement hidden.

‘I could ask Barkalor to open a portal for us.’

But for the first time.

“By the way, Min-hee, are you good with amusement rides?”
“Amusement rides? I can ride them, but…”

Jeong Min-hee’s voice grew faint as her attention wandered, her words trailing off.

“Really?”

I simply tossed the materials toward the hole.

“Huh?!”

Jeong Min-hee stared at me in bewilderment.
First, because there was a massive hole in the middle of the house.
Second, because I had just thrown materials down into it.
However, that expression didn’t last long.

“Let’s check from below.”

Thump.

“Huh?”

I pushed her through the hole.

“Huh? Huh?”

Unable to comprehend the situation, she let out a few dazed sounds.
Soon she disappeared from view.
A moment later.

-Kyaaaaaaah! Kang Ha-jin, you bastard!

Her scream echoed up from the hole belatedly.
I smirked.

“Barkalor. Open a portal for me. Make sure that woman doesn’t die.”

-As you command, Master.

I heard Barkalor’s voice in my mind.
A portal opened.
I briefly regretted pulling it from her handbag earlier.
But once she sees what’s below, she probably won’t just be angry.

Thus, I lightly stepped toward the portal before me.

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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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