I Inherited the Basement of the Tower - Chapter 39

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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 39

Whoosh—

The portal closed behind me.
Jeong Min-hee sat atop a cushion of Darkness in front of me.
Elder Barkalor had laid it down to cushion the impact.

‘I never realized Darkness could be used in such a way.’

Fwip.

Momentarily forgetting about Jeong Min-hee.
I conjured a small amount of Darkness above my palm.
As I visualized the image of a cloud or cushion, the mass of Darkness writhed and took shape.

‘Interesting.’

It turned out reasonably well.
My mastery of Darkness pales in comparison to Elder Barkalor’s, so only such small quantities are possible for now.
But if I train consistently under his guidance like Yahwi does, I could certainly expand it enough to carry people.

‘Could I ride it like the Nimbus Cloud?’

Probably.
If I could create a nano-mechanical suit from Black Armor’s Darkness energy, there’s no reason I couldn’t fashion a cloud-shaped vehicle.

‘Wait.’

Now that I mention the Nimbus Cloud, I wonder if the Great Sage exists too.
If Greek and Roman mythology exists, and there are separate sun deities.
Could other mythologies truly exist as well?

‘Actually, it would be stranger if only Greek and Roman mythology existed.’

Of course, I’ve never seen other deities of that kind on the Hunter Net.
But what if they haven’t been discovered yet, or like me, they’re hiding their abilities?

‘Worthy of existence, certainly.’

But for now, it’s only speculation.
Let me focus on what I can do immediately.

“…Kang Ha-jin. You just came through the portal, didn’t you?”

…Yes.
Like that Jeong Min-hee glaring at me as if she’d growl and kill me.

“Calm yourself and put down the handbag.”

As she slightly withdrew her hand from above the handbag.
Something ‘terrifying’ came into view.

“If you drop me through that hole one more time, I swear—”
“That won’t happen. From now on, just tell Elder Barkalor and he’ll open the portal for you. Here, take this and calm down.”

I handed her a Werewear hide fragment from my inventory.

“…!”

Even while falling through that hole, she had clutched the Kobold hide fragment in her hand so as not to lose it.
Her eyes turned once more at the different type of hide.

Snatch!
Only after grabbing it eagerly did she calm down and lower her head.

“Thank you.”

A happy face, as if she hadn’t been angry at all.
Not even a puppy—just handing her materials and her mood clears instantly.

‘She’s simple.’

As long as there are new materials, she doesn’t care how she’s treated.
In some ways, she might be even simpler than Yahwi.

“Welcome to the Dungeon of the Tower.”

I reached out toward the Temple, though a moment too late.
Her gaze naturally followed my gesture.
She let out a gasp of wonder.

“Wow. This is really the Basement of the Tower?”

All the torches I’d installed throughout the space had proven worthwhile.
Unlike me, who possessed night vision, Jeong Min-hee couldn’t see through the darkness.
She wandered through the Temple like a child visiting an amusement park for the first time, marveling at everything.
From the Swordsmanship Hall to the Office and the forge.

“Hello, I’m Eltos.”

Of course, I introduced her to Eltos, who was in the middle of processing sunstones.
True to his timid nature, he greeted her shyly, keeping his distance.

“Eek!”
“Please, calm yourself. He’s like family to me—a skilled Artifact-Grade Blacksmith.”
“Die!”
“You’ll be working with Min-hee going forward… No, Jeong Min-hee! Put down your handbag. He’s not a monster, I’m telling you!”

It seemed less a matter of racial shyness and more that he was genuinely contemplating how to cook her.
In the end, I spent considerable time clearing up the misunderstanding and appeasing the sulking Eltos.

“I’m truly sorry, Eltos!”
“…”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of his hammer grew progressively louder in silence, suggesting it would take some time before he’d have a change of heart.
Regardless, he was a timid creature who didn’t live up to his size.

“What is this?”

Jeong Min-hee picked up a moonstone from beside me.
It was something Eltos had brought.
Apparently, processing sunstones required the harmony of yin and yang.

“It’s Moonstone. It only appears in the Dungeon of the Tower.”
“What can you do with it?”

My eyes gleamed at the sight of this unfamiliar material.
How fitting for an alchemist.

‘….’

I hesitated for a moment.
Moonstone was currency before it was ore.
I’d given it to Eltos because he truly needed it.
If Jeong Min-hee used it for research as well, I might not have enough.

“Are you aware that this place is near the Black Land?”
“Yes, I am.”
“How has your breathing been?”
“What?”

Jeong Min-hee’s eyes widened as if she’d realized something.

“It’s been… easy. Why?”
“Because I’ve planted purification plants in the courtyard. It’s a type of currency—something that can purchase such items.”

In other words, I was heavily implying she shouldn’t use it for research.

“Purification!? You can purify the Black Land!?”

But Jeong Min-hee jumped at an entirely different point.
Well, it’s interesting, but is it really that significant?
Wait—did she perhaps buy land in Seoul?
She patted my shoulder enthusiastically.

“It’s just a hypothesis, but there’s a possibility that the underground beneath the Black Land is filled with Magic Stones!”
“…!”

That makes sense.
Mana stones are minerals formed by condensed magical power, literally speaking.
If the Black Land resulted from the high concentration of magical power expelled near the Tower when it first appeared.
Then the excess magical power dispersed through the atmosphere would have been absorbed deep into the earth.
And if that crystallized deep beneath the ground?

“…There might be veins of them. Across the entire area near the Tower, even.”
“Exactly! You caught on right away?”

For a moment, Jeong Min-hee licked her lips with her tongue.
Despite being a gesture from someone whose beauty rivaled even idols, it felt strangely unsettling.

“Have you ever thought about learning alchemy?”
“If I’m interested later, I’ll let you know.”
“What about now?”

She approached me with the eyes of someone examining new material.
Eyes that wondered how it might be processed.
For a moment, the scent of perfume made me dizzy, but I pulled myself together.
At this rate, I’d become the strongest graduate student instead of the strongest hunter.

Whoosh!

“Master! I have arrived!”

Just then, Yahwi, who had cleared today’s underground layer repeatedly, appeared from thin air.
Perfect timing.

“Oh, Yahwi. You came at just the right moment. This is Jeong Min-hee, who’s starting to work with us today. She’s a valuable talent, so treat her with respect.”
“A, a woman!?”

His eyes widened as he looked back and forth between me and Jeong Min-hee.
This guy.
Was it really that surprising to see me with a woman?
I’d never heard anyone say I was ugly.

“…Your appearance?”

Jeong Min-hee’s eyebrows twitched at Yahwi’s fashion sense.
Unkempt long hair and martial arts robes that looked like they belonged in a wuxia novel.
I paused for a moment, wondering how to explain myself.

“Are you perhaps a member of the Open Guild?”

Jeong Min-hee had drawn her own conclusion.
The Open Guild was founded by a wuxia novel fanatic guild master.
Though the meaning had faded considerably over time.
I’d heard that some members occasionally committed to the concept with cosplay like that.
So she’d mistaken Yahwi for an Open Guild member.
But Yahwi took it differently.
He bristled and opened his mouth.

“Open Guild? Do I look like a beggar to you, miss?”
“What? Oh, no. That’s not what I meant—”
“I am Yahwi. A loyal resident and family of my lord.”
“L-lord?”

Jeong Min-hee looked at me with suspicious eyes.
Many questions were contained within that gaze.
Do you normally have this cosplay preference too? Surely you’re not making me do it as well? Those kinds of questions.

“It’s a misunderstanding. It’s similar to that giant over there. Just as the Tower has residents, the residents of this Basement and I, as the first discoverer, am their lord.”

After my explanation, she looked convinced.

“Oh, I see. He’s rough around the edges, but his face is actually quite presentable.”
“Hahaha! You have a discerning eye, miss?”
“Well, my tastes lean more this way.”

Jeong Min-hee gave me a subtle wink.

“Excellent judgment, truly excellent. Yes, my lord’s appearance is unmatched.”

… Hmm.
Both of them speak such words without hesitation.
I understand, though.
From Yahwi’s perspective, I’m his lord, and from Jeong Min-hee’s perspective, I’m essentially her boss.
Even empty flattery has always made whales dance.
I smiled and spoke.

“That doesn’t mean I’ll give you less work.”
“That’s fine. I was thinking it’s about time I showed what I’m really capable of anyway.”

Jeong Min-hee pulled out a pair of worn gloves from her handbag.
Carrying such grimy work gloves in an expensive handbag—how typical.
A true craftsman is a true craftsman indeed.

“Min-hee, if you need anything at all, feel free to request it. I can cover any financial needs anytime.”

The money I earned from selling meat is still abundant.
Of course, as research progresses, I’ll need a larger budget.
But I can earn that from research results.

‘Elder Barkalor planned this, and it’s work being done by the Renowned Alchemist of the Hunters Guild and an Artifact-Grade Blacksmith.’

It would be stranger if there were no results.
Jeong Min-hee’s eyes glistened with tears.

“… Wow. Is this real? I’m actually happy right now.”

I’m not sure which part moved her so.
Isn’t it natural for a boss to provide a budget?
Is that really the touching part?

“Your previous employer didn’t do this?”
“No. I made the right call switching jobs.”

Jeong Min-hee pulled on her gloves with burning determination.

“Then, boss, you should focus on training for the special dungeon floors. I’ll call you when we have results. Right, Eltos?”
“… Don’t talk to me.”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Eltos continued hammering with pursed lips.
I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
Still, “boss,” huh.
I scratched my chin at the unexpected title.
I never thought I’d bring outsiders into this basement.
And I certainly never imagined they’d be famous people.
I’d have to get used to it going forward.
Still, with just a few more people, the basement felt noticeably more lively.

‘They’re not residents, but.’

Since they’d be working with me, they were my people.

‘The next welcome dinner will have two guests of honor.’

Once material processing succeeded and the Holy Power item was crafted, I’d prepare something truly grand.

‘Speaking of which, a mana stone vein.’

If her hypothesis was correct and vast mana stone veins existed beneath the entire Black Land.
And if the purification trees of the Black Land could cleanse the harmful mana so workers could access the area.

‘…And if only I could do this.’

Mana stones were literally rocks infused with mana.
Research hadn’t progressed far enough for practical application yet.
But applications were continuously being researched—from hunter equipment like weapon materials and energy-form barriers that resisted physical force, to robotics, machinery, iron substitutes, semiconductors, and processing into energy to replace electricity.
If I could find a way to obtain mana stones beyond clearing the Tower.
I’d gain wealth worth hundreds of trillions of won, if not more.
The incomprehensible amount of money made my head spin.
Of course, acquiring that much purification wood would require enormous amounts of moonstone, and I’d need substantial manpower and technology to mine and process it.

‘It’s impossible to execute right now.’

Moreover, if word of this got out, I’d face considerable opposition worldwide.
But if it could be realized?

‘I’m not envious of inheritance.’

South Korea would become a nation possessing Mana Stone ore veins.
Though it was merely speculation.

‘Even if the broth tastes good, it tastes too good.’

Hoping for such a day to come, I headed toward the Swordsmanship Hall.
The special dungeon layer would surely have far greater difficulty than the layers I’d conquered so far.
They said there was a mark of Thanatos, Nix’s child, but I wouldn’t know how the encounter would unfold until I saw it myself.
Above all, what concerned me most wasn’t the monsters.

‘In the Tower, electronic devices don’t function, and it’s a place where anyone could die without it being strange.’

I hoped such a thing wouldn’t happen.
But there was no harm in being prepared.

“Let’s go, Yahwi.”
“Yes, my lord! I’ll give you an intense training session today as well!”
“Good!”

* * *

However, our training ended before even a day had passed.

“Please praise me, boss.”

Jeong Min-hee, with a confident expression, called me while holding a beautifully colored piece of leather.

Ding!
【You have obtained the Hide of the Sun.】

Clang…!

“Unfortunately, I was just a step too late.”

Eltos also picked up a single glimmering grain of sand.
Ah, I was mistaken.
This is the ‘Eltos-fication’ phenomenon of objects.
Once it comes into my hands, it would be about the size of an egg.
And just like that, the name of this egg is.

Ding!
【You have obtained Sunlight Stone.】

I nodded with satisfaction.
Now the preparations were complete.

“Please craft the Holy Power item for me.”

* * *

Was it only the processing that was difficult?
They called me again half a day later.
In the end, they had succeeded.

Ding!
【You have obtained the Pendant of the Sun.】
-Holy Power +3 when equipped.
-100% additional damage against Undead targets.

An item that would bankrupt the Sage Guild.

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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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