Obtained End-Game Gear for a Bowl of Ramen - Chapter 4

Dae Young pointed at Jung Ho with a shadow tendril.

So his resistance to Mana Corruption came from having such low Mana.
He’d suspected as much, but the effectiveness exceeded his imagination. Could he just keep eating contaminated Hundred Year Polygonum and be fine?

Quick intuition too. Dae Young was clearly no amateur at business.
“How did you know what I was thinking?”

Jung Ho had to nod—it was sound reasoning.
But then……
“Why did my Constitution increase?”
Usually Mana Corruption is countered by increasing Mana, right? You’re supposed to expand your Mana pool to reduce the Corruption.
Constitution is pure toughness—your ability to take hits and endure pain. Why raise that?
“Wait. Could it be……?”
Was he supposed to raise his Constitution to tank ninety-nine percent Mana Corruption?

The shadow giant’s red eyes flashed.

“Come on, I’ve got some sense. Thanks anyway.”
Jung Ho clenched his fist, then opened it.
Though his Constitution had improved two grades, he couldn’t yet gauge where he stood now.
He wanted to test it somewhere.
‘I wonder if there’s a Gate nearby.’
He checked the Hunter Online app on his smartphone, but nearby Gates had dried up.
Were Korean Hunters really so diligent?
‘Ideally I’d want to test it in a Gate.’
Elixirs were most dangerous immediately after consumption.
Your body suddenly grew stronger but your mind couldn’t keep pace—accidents happened.
It was like driving a broken-down heap your whole life, then suddenly getting a new car and flooring it on old habit: instant speeding, instant collision.
Gates were ideal for testing new abilities because multiple Hunters worked them together, so others could help if something went wrong.
Other Hunters did the same, in fact. Just as Jung Ho had saved Kwon Min Ki from death with Fire Bolt.
But there were no Gates nearby.
‘Looks like I’m climbing the Trial Tower.’
Going in alone was risky, but what the hell.
The first five floors were still beginner territory anyway.
What could possibly go wrong?
* * *
[Skill Used: Trial Tower Entry]
[Entering Trial Tower, Floor 3.]
[Floor 3 Objective: Secure 1 Blue Jewel]
Floor 3 of the Trial Tower was a labyrinthine, densely packed forest.
Up to now, the objective had been total annihilation of enemies, but Floor 3 required finding and securing a blue jewel hidden somewhere in the woods.
This was why Hunters needed all their Ability Scores developed equally.
Mindlessly raising only Strength and Mana meant tasting bitter defeat on Floor 3.
Even the world’s number-one ranked Hunter, Ronald, had experienced that. Ronald was the strongest, but he wasn’t the greatest Hunter.
Instead, the top-ranked Hunter for Floor 3 of the Trial Tower was Li Wei from China—a Detection-type Hunter.
‘What others do honestly doesn’t concern me.’
First, I need to test my improved Constitution.
Even with Constitution raised two grades to D, could he withstand ninety-nine percent Mana Corruption?
Jung Ho had barely stepped out of the safe zone when he ran into a patrol of goblins.
“Kee-hee-hee-yak!”
“F-Fire Bolt!”
Until that moment, he’d given it no real thought. If anything, there seemed to be fewer monsters than on the second floor.
But then—
[Skill Used: Fire Bolt (Original)]
[Launching an arrow of flame.]
The crimson sun bloomed above his head just as before, and yet… wait. It’s bigger than it was.
Boom! Boom! Crash!!
The forest maze collapsed into a handful of ash.
“What—what is this? It’s gotten stronger?”
A highway had been carved clean through the center of the labyrinth.
Jung Ho sprinted toward the blue gem glimmering on the far side.
[Trial Tower Floor 3 cleared!]
[Clear Time — 00:00:07 seconds.]
[Clear Rank: EX]
[EX-Rank Reward: Acquired 19 Mana Stones.]
[EX-Rank Special Reward: Acquired 1 Hero’s Evidence.]
[Rank 1 position reclaimed! Record updated!]
The tower clear status window appeared, and immediately after—
[Warning! Mana Corruption 99%!]
[Warning! Mana Corruption 99%!]
[Warning! Mana Corruption 99%!]
“Ugh… I can probably hold on for now.”
There was a metallic taste in his mouth, but it seemed he could handle two Fire Bolts in succession, and the power had definitely gone up, hadn’t it?
‘Why did the power increase, though? I don’t understand that part.’
Constitution should only boost durability. Is there something I’m not aware of?
Jung Ho exited the tower and opened Hunter Online.
-(Question) Does raising Constitution make skills stronger too?
└Could be. Could not be.
└Mana is something humans use, so they unconsciously brake on it. When you raise Constitution, you brake less, so it gets stronger.
└Why brake at all? Can’t you just use it?
└Sure, if you want Mana Corruption to kill you. Mana and strength are the same. Push too hard and it ruptures.
└But don’t rush to raise Constitution. Max out your Mana first, then only raise Constitution when there’s nothing else left. That’s what all the S-Rank Hunters do too.
‘I see. So Constitution does have an effect.’
Constitution was more than just raw durability.
Did the Big Shadow, Dae Young, somehow see this far ahead? He deserves a decent bowl of ramen next time, for being so helpful.
‘Speaking of ramen…’
Gurgle-gurgle-gurgle.
Jung Ho was hungry.
Awakening was good, tower climbing was good, everything was good—but a person’s got to eat first.
‘I’m craving ramen. I should cook some.’
The moment Jung Ho got home, he set water on to boil.
He flicked the gas range lever and ignited the flame, but something felt off.
He could feel the fire. He could hear it speaking to him directly.
How hot it was right now, how the temperature would change going forward, how much to adjust it to cook the ramen perfectly.
‘Have I finally lost it after three years of job hunting?’
Jung Ho doubted himself, but the reason soon came to him.
‘The Fire Bolt (Original)?’
Wizard-class Hunters often describe it as “listening.”
They say they can communicate with the element they primarily use.
He’d dismissed it as nonsense, but Jung Ho had experienced it firsthand.
‘It’s real. I can control the fire more delicately now?’
He dropped the noodles into the boiling water.
Bubble-bubble-bubble! The strands turning soft in the bright red broth.
Jung Ho had always been good at cooking ramen, but today—feeling the flame directly, applying every ounce of his newfound fire control—the result was extraordinary.
And so—
“Wow. Wow, this… this isn’t ramen. This is art. I’m honored to partake.”
Slurp-slurp-slurp! He emptied the bowl in a flash, eyes closed like a crab hiding from the world.
Who knew ramen could taste even better? I can’t keep something this good to myself.
“Hero’s Tower Entry.”
* * *

Jung Ho had barely stepped into the Hero’s Tower when the scolding began.
“Why not? Is there a problem with me coming?”

“Jung Ho. Jung Ho. Now that I think about it, I haven’t even introduced myself properly.”

“I don’t.”
Dae Young’s eyes fell away.

Jung Ho had nearly taken offense, but the apology was enough. He decided to let it pass.
Jung Ho held out a pot of ramen.
“I made ramen again today. Please try it before it gets cold or the noodles overcook.”

“That’s harsh language. I genuinely brought it because it’s delicious and I wanted to share it with you.”
This wasn’t mere ramen—it was art. Dae Young deserved to know this taste.
Besides, it was all thanks to the Skill Book Dae Young had given him.
“Go on, try it. Before it cools down or overcooks.”

The pot of ramen drifted up near Dae Young’s crimson eyes.

“That’s true. But the taste is different, I promise?”

Dae Young tilted the pot without much expectation.
The slurping sound that had been ongoing suddenly stopped.Slurrrp—?

“See? Told you.”

“This time I got some benefit from the tower.”
Jung Ho mentioned the story of fire speaking to him.
Come to think of it, it was all thanks to the Fire Bolt technique.

Dae Young suddenly took it seriously, though Jung Ho had thought it was nothing remarkable.
“Is that criticism or praise?”

“Could it be because of the Elixir?”

Jung Ho had only spoken once and already received a lecture.
Dae Young tilted his head in confusion.

Now that he mentioned it, this was indeed the Hero’s Tower—the tower that selected true heroes.
Just as Dae Young had said, Jung Ho came and went constantly, yet he hardly understood what this place truly was.
“Is the Hero’s Tower that difficult?”

What on earth awaits on the first floor?
A dragon? An archdevil? Ancient machinery? Jung Ho’s curiosity got the better of him.

He received only a riddle instead of an answer.
“Hmm. Yourself?”
Dae Young’s crimson eyes suddenly went rigid.

Dae Young’s form swelled magnificently.
He expanded to ten times his original size, and Jung Ho had to tilt his head back to meet those eyes now impossibly high above.

“An ordinary……person?”

“Because I’m that ordinary person. See you later!”

* * *
[Entering Hero’s Tower, Floor 1.]
[Floor 1 Objective: Reach the finish line while holding hands with the Fragile Scarecrow.]
Jung Ho stepped out from the white wash of light.
The Hero’s Tower was a place that selected true heroes.
But wait—shouldn’t Floor 1 be as weak as an ordinary person?
‘That’s me.’
So he’d just gone ahead and entered.
‘It’s quieter inside than I expected.’
The Trial Tower had been spectacular from the moment you entered—dense forests, endless plains, maze gardens like something out of a film. But the Hero’s Tower was simple. Just a single stone corridor with candles lit here and there. It felt like taking an exam before a god long forgotten.
‘What’s this Fragile Scarecrow supposed to be?’
There was a scarecrow down the hallway.
Jung Ho approached it without much thought, but Dae Young’s nagging echoed in his ears.
—
Jung Ho stood right in front of the scarecrow’s face.
He examined it closely.
—
‘The scarecrow’s kind of cute.’
Someone had even drawn a smiling face on it.
So now he was supposed to hold hands with it?
—
Jung Ho took the scarecrow’s hand.
It was soft and squishy.
And now he was supposed to head for the finish line?
—
Dae Young had gone on and on with his lecturing.
Jung Ho didn’t know what he was talking about, but he’d already arrived.
[You have cleared Hero’s Tower, Floor 1!]
[Clear Rank: EX]
[EX-Rank Special Reward: You awaken Hero’s Power!]
[Hero’s Power Stage 1 has been unlocked!]
Awakening Hero’s Power? What was this now.
Before Jung Ho could do anything, his status window opened on its own.
Pop!
[Name: Jung Ho]
[Unique Skill: Hero’s Tower Entry]
[Ability Scores] [Level: 4]
-Strength: F -Agility: F
-Constitution: D -Perception: F
-Mana: F -Luck: F
-Hero’s Power: Stage 1
[Common Skills: Trial Tower Entry, Fire Bolt (Original)]
A new ability score had appeared.
* * *

Dae Young grumbled in the Dimensional Shop [Dapanda].
A water portal opened in empty air, and a ferryboat emerged.
“Is that the same fellow from before?”

“Hmm. If that’s true.”
The seal on the bottle popped open with a cheerful sound.
“Shall I teach you one of my Absolute Techniques?”
Continued in the next chapter ▶
Got an end-game item with just a bowl of ramen
Author
White Dried Persimmon
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Publishing House
Grae Publishing
Inquiries
[email protected]
Publication Date
August 24, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260423069
※ This e-book is protected under copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution are prohibited. Violators are subject to criminal and civil liability.
※ Pentagram welcomes your precious manuscripts.

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