Chapter 9
Up to the point where I expected a change—
Everything was as predicted.
But one thing—
The moment I entered the portal, I kept staring anxiously at the timer that appeared on the back of my hand.
Floor number.
Time remaining.
This…
“It’s reacting exactly like a tower.”
A Tower.
Content where a structure erupts from the ground, and if you reach the top, you get rewards before it disappears.
Similar to Sudden Portals—
But infamous for three reasons.
- The monster types on each floor are unpredictable.
- You can’t quit midway unless you reach a safety zone.
- At higher ranks, attacks that don’t match the enemy’s attribute barely work.
The rewards were good.
But it was the kind of update veteran After Carnation players cursed.
The sort of content made for people who had “nothing left to do.”
‘And it had to change into this of all things.’
A headache.
If this really followed the tower structure—
And who knew what changed on the next floor—
Then it was gambling.
And if some floor mission triggered—
Done.
‘All I can do is endure one floor at a time.’
Either way—
I had to clear this floor before the timer ran out.
But how do I prove that?
I can’t rip open my insides and show him.
Ridiculous.
And besides—
‘I didn’t know you were this timid.’
I was exhausted just looking at Kang Minhyung panicking.
What a negative wreck.
I reached toward the only surviving vending machine.
“Here.”
Drink cold water and get it together.
I handed him a bottle.
He hesitated—
Then took it.
I got cola.
The fizz settled my stomach.
After a few gulps, he stopped muttering to himself.
But he still looked like a crumpled recycling box.
I sighed.
“When has disaster ever announced itself before arriving?”
His shoulders twitched.
“Once it happens, only three types survive.
First—
People are fully prepared.
Second—
People strong enough to survive anything.”
“……”
“Third.”
I paused.
He slowly looked up.
Then I said confidently—
“People glued to the side of the first two.”
“……”
“So?”
I’m telling you I’ll keep you alive.
I looked straight at him.
Honestly—
The fact I had to beg to save someone was absurd.
Tick.
Tick.
Time passed.
After about five minutes, he finally stood.
Nearly 180 centimeters tall.
Like a bear.
Seeing him hesitate, I got annoyed and told him to take off his checkered shirt.
Confused, he did.
I tied one sleeve around his wrist.
Held the other end myself.
“You follow me.”
And dragged him.
Like walking a dog.
Not dignified.
But urgent things came first.
First—
We needed to identify the boss of the first floor.
***
“…It’s a book.”
“…It’s a book.”
Two heads peeked around the hallway corner into the study room.
The boss monster wrecking desks and smashing chairs—
Was, unmistakably—
A book.
A giant book.
As big as a blackboard.
Every time it flapped pages, gusts of wind whipped through the room.
Its hardbound cover gleamed.
Written in bold calligraphy—
<Hunter Fundamentals – Vol. 1>
‘…It looks fueled by exam students’ resentment.’
Kang Minhyung stared at the familiar cover and nodded solemnly.
Makes sense.
Meanwhile he muttered,
“Maybe this is actually lucky…”
Then started looking around.
“What are you searching for?”
“Sprinklers. Or hydrants. Fire extinguishers. Water dispenser…”
“To put out fire?”
The air went cold.
So this is what “air freezing over” feels like.
He hadn’t felt this judged since his sister looked at him after he tried dancing and smashed his toe into a door frame.
He rubbed his arm awkwardly.
Why is it so cold in here?
And Moa’s eyes clearly said—
‘Did you seriously just say that?’
“Object-type monsters have to be destroyed in their complete form by exploiting their weakness.”
Then I began explaining.
“For example, that lamp chasing us earlier—
You destroy the filament inside.
That’s the strategy.
…You didn’t think I was doing random nonsense, right?”
“N-no, of course not. I totally knew that…”
“Then what about that book?”
Dear heavens!
Why test me like this?
A ticking timer appeared in his brain.
He looked like someone on a quiz show final.
He froze.
I sighed.
“Obviously burn it.
And if water could put it out, there’d be no point.
That’s why I’m checking surrounding objects.”
Boooo.
He could practically hear imaginary audience jeers.
“I-I studied this…”
I walked past him and muttered—
“Maybe… you’re not very good at studying.”
Ding ding ding.
K.O.
He staggered.
Then—
Crash!
A wooden stick flew.
Perfectly piercing the sprinkler above.
He jolted so hard he nearly died again.
Clutching his chest, he stared at me accusingly.
I grinned.
Like a mischievous kid.
A flame rose in my palm.
“Wait—what are you doing?!”
Before he could stop me—
I threw it.
Into the study room.
This person had fire skills?!
Whoosh.
The room ignited.
Boom! Boom!
The burning boss thrashed.
Smashing walls.
Fire spread into the hallway.
Kang Minhyung looked betrayed.
Sure, set it on fire—
But this much?!
“You’re insane.”
BOOM—!!
Hunter Fundamentals smashed through the wall.
Facing us directly.
“No time.”
I grabbed Kang Minhyung’s arm and pulled him behind me.
He swallowed.
Looking down at the head smaller than his.
‘Should I suggest waiting for rescue after all?’
***
“Hot!”
I barely dodged a wave of fire.
Flames surged like a tide.
Heat gathered sweat even while standing still.
And yet—
Bang! Bang!
The tip of my staff shook as I hurled fireballs at the book spine.
Even through flickering flames—
Every shot landed.
Combat skill impossible for E-rank.
No—
Impossible even in theory.
Yet there it was.
I fought Hunter Fundamentals step by step.
Like I knew every pattern.
“Careful.”
As time passed—
Kang Minhyung felt strangely reassured.
He had been staring blankly and didn’t notice the boss charging.
I shoved his head down.
Pulled him out of the attack path.
Ash rained over us.
‘She fights like a possessed ghost.’
That was the only way to describe it.
She had warned—
Don’t interfere.
Stay still or I can’t save you.
Yet her actions were the opposite.
While attacking, she constantly kept the boss’s attention away from him.
Maintained burn damage.
Protected his safety radius.
‘Like the field is in her palm.’
Either the measurement was wrong—
Or she had eight eyes and ten arms.
Combat sense?
Training?
Or—
Glug glug.
Every time I cast a skill, I drank mana potions like beer.
Burning pages scattered.
Only a few remained.
Once all pages burned—
The boss would disappear.
The hard cover slowed it.
But it was almost done.
‘We’re really going to live.’
That hunter…
is saving me.
His fear melted with the flames.
Crack.
At last—
The final page burned black.
The hardcover thrashed like a dying thing.
Then—
Thud.
Dropped.
【1F Cleared!】
【Permission granted for next floor.
Entry time: 4 min 28 sec】
“Told you I’d win.”
Ash drifted white.
Under it, Moa smiled brightly.
With soot under her nose.
