WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Mordor

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◈ Escaping the Tower at Hell Difficulty ◈

Chapter 26

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Ting, tiiing!

The 6.8mm high-pressure rounds struck the boss again and again.

But it didn't die.

It was barely holding on, but holding on nonetheless. Its Physical Resistance didn't seem to have disappeared completely.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Han Juwon's Ghost Bullets followed.

The boss wrung cold air from its chest and aimed it at him.

"Get out of there!"

Whoosh!

A wave of cold tore through every piece of cover and swept across where Han Juwon had been standing.

Had it targeted that side because it thought the Ever-Burning Heart's heat would neutralize an attack against me?

Flash!

Kim Yuna teleported away with him just in time.

Crack!

Sang Hajun's sniper round struck the boss, the Manager, in the head.

"Aaargh! This is my establishment! Go back!"

What kind of shopkeeper chased away customers while running a business?

It was about time to finish this.

I emptied the rest of my magazine.

Ting! Tiiing! Tick, tick...

The gun clicked dry.

Maybe because it was only a 20-round magazine, it ran dry quickly.

"I-it's out of bullets!"

The boss snickered and tried to attack me, but...

I'd already let go of my gun and drawn my dagger. The sling caught the rifle, letting it swing naturally behind my back.

"Don't shoot!"

Flash!

I activated the Gale Boots and drove the dagger into its heart.

"Hrk?! Aaaah... N-no..."

It had fiercely resisted despite being showered with bullets, yet a single stab left it unable to move.

There really was something special about this dagger.

Was it some kind of ultimate anti-boss weapon?

"Aagh, it hurts. I... I can feel pain again..."

The creature stared in shock before turning into a handful of snow.

Click.

I quickly picked up the loot that had fallen to the ground.

There was the Key of Snow, along with a small necklace. Several cartridge-shaped charms dangled from it.

'What's this? Huh!'

Sizzle!

The Incendiary Grenade I'd thrown earlier spewed flames again, so I quickly got out of the way.

The boss's cold effect must have disappeared.

"Kang Hyun, did you get it?"

"Yes! I definitely got the Key of Snow."

"Good. You keep it."

I quickly put the key into my Subspace Pouch.

Then I examined the necklace.

[Ghost’s Cartridge Necklace]

"Oh, this..."

"What is it?"

It was an artifact that borrowed part of the Manager's ability, allowing penetrating shots that ignored cover.

"That's incredible. Combined with your skill, Kang Hyun, you're invincible. Hiding won't help anyone anymore."

"Ah, but it only applies to one shot... and I have to wait before I can use it again. The penetration also seems to depend on the original bullet."

This seemed better suited to Sang Hajun, a sniper, than me.

"For now, Hajun, you should keep it."

"... All right."

Since it was an order from the deputy leader, he accepted without complaint.

Being an officer really was nice.

Anyway, we'd killed the boss and recovered the loot. All we had to do now was escape safely.

Since we were here, should we loot the Underground Shopping Mall a little more? There had to be plenty of expensive things around.

Just as I was thinking that, Sang Hajun signaled us.

"Five-member hunter team spotted on Camera Two. They look like elite soldiers. I think they're after us."

The Underground Shopping Mall was a popular farming spot.

Naturally, hyenas looking for corpses would come flocking in.

Orcs and Goblins rarely came here, which meant hunters could beat each other up without worrying about monsters.

"We don't need to fight them, right?"

"Right."

"Team Leader, can you hear me?"

When I asked, an answer came through the radio.

[Alpha One is securing the sewer entrance.]

"Hunting operation successful. We've picked up a tail. We'll join you there."

[Understood.]

We didn't move too quickly.

We had to fight while holding the area we currently occupied.

The sewers were a route hunters often used to avoid monsters. If we retreated carelessly and got caught between enemies on both sides, that would be the worst possible outcome.

A few grenades could take us out.

The seventh floor really was a hellish place.

If you moved as a group, monsters would definitely find you...

Yet if you went somewhere without monsters, there was a very high chance you'd run into other hunters.

It was practically impossible to avoid fighting.

Sang Hajun, who had set up cameras before we moved, spoke.

"They're following us. We won't be able to enter the sewer like this. How about we take them out?"

"... All right."

I wanted to avoid combat as much as possible, but we had no choice.

The fact that they'd deliberately concealed their presence while following us meant they intended to attack.

Those bastards couldn't complain about getting shot now.

If we were going to fight, it would be better to ambush them.

We spread out slightly and took positions that were easy to defend.

There were plenty of abandoned stores, but it was still an underground shopping mall, so the paths were wide open.

At least the debris could serve as obstacles and cover.

Before they could even properly approach us...

"Ugh?!"

Sang Hajun suddenly staggered badly.

He clutched his eye and groaned in pain.

"What's wrong?"

"No, this..."

"Ugh..."

Another team member reacted.

Han Juwon, who had been grazed by the boss's attack earlier, clutched his wound.

'What is this? An enemy skill? But they're too far away...'

"Here they come!"

Tiiing!

Kim Yuna took down the hunter leading the charge.

They hadn't expected an ambush because it was such a dangerous position without any cover.

"There!"

Naturally, they returned fire, but Kim Yuna quickly teleported away.

With Team Leader Go Jiho guarding the sewer, it was effectively four against four.

But Sang Hajun's condition was far too serious.

"Hajun, are you okay?"

"Don't worry about me!"

It seemed he couldn't see properly.

Could his genetic disease have flared up at the worst possible time?

Even so, this was unbelievably bad luck.

I widened my angle slightly and activated Transcendence.

[Complete Senses skill transcended. Four Seasons skill activated.]

I'd used Firmament Veil earlier, but only briefly, so I could still manage.

In an instant, I precisely identified their positions.

"One behind the stairs, machine gun in the side passage!"

I quickly relayed it through the radio and tried to circle around them, but...

The next moment, I saw a future where the machine gun tore me apart.

The enemy was watching the flanking route.

'What? They aren't pushing in? They're being awfully cautious for people who attacked first...'

I realized why a moment later.

The hunter hiding behind the stairs leading to the second floor.

An unpleasant wave was spreading from that hunter.

Thanks to Four Seasons, the information came to me automatically.

An S-rank hunter.

Their Basic Skill was Aura of Aggravation.

It had little effect on an ordinary opponent...

But if someone was wounded or had a preexisting illness, it rapidly worsened their condition.

That was why Sang Hajun and Han Juwon had been affected.

It was practically Sang Hajun's natural enemy, especially because of his genetic disease.

If we left it alone, he might lose his sight completely.

'An S-rank hunter, of all things...'

Their method was probably to pressure teams that had already seen battle with Aura of Aggravation, then hunt them easily.

They weren't some random amateurs who had wandered onto the seventh floor.

They had a clear strategy and the ability to back it up.

"Hajun, he's behind the stairs! Use the Ghost’s Cartridge Necklace and snipe him!"

"Ugh..."

Sang Hajun struggled to raise his sniper rifle, but...

He still couldn't see.

Even after taking the Panacea he'd been saving, it had almost no effect.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Han Juwon and Kim Yuna couldn't move because of the suppressive fire.

With Sang Hajun effectively out of combat, they were covering him.

I'd have to find a way through the machine gun and flank them.

It was a shame I'd already used the Gale Boots.

They were nowhere near recharged yet.

"Team Leader! Can you support us?"

[Enemies approaching through the sewer. Alpha One commencing engagement.]

Was there another hunter team over there too?

This was the worst.

Go Jiho was effectively facing five against one.

The narrow terrain gave him an advantage, but Go Jiho had to finish them quickly and come support us.

How was I supposed to get past that machine gun?

Should I try a flashbang?

No.

Their night-vision goggles were fairly modern. They didn't seem to have thermal detection, but one flashbang wouldn't disable them.

Before it was too late, I popped a smoke grenade.

Rat-a-tat!

Their machine gun opened fire, but its accuracy dropped sharply.

The fact that the gunner fired in short bursts rather than wasting ammunition proved they were a professional.

Thanks to Four Seasons, I sprinted out at a moment when the machine gun fire would not hit me.

Flash!

I moved to a nearby store, emerged from the smoke, and fired.

Tiiing!

One shot pierced the enemy's helmet.

But...

'The one behind the stairs ran away.'

The S-rank hunter must have sensed something when I threw the smoke grenade and had already retreated up the stairs.

"Hajun, behind the second-floor signboard! Under the broken planter!"

It was too far to throw a grenade.

No sooner had I relayed the enemy's position than Sang Hajun spoke in a completely subdued voice.

[Leave it to me.]

His tone was brief and reassuring, as always.

Out of nowhere, he had drawn a knife.

'What?'

No. He wouldn't.

Sang Hajun was climbing the Tower so he could keep seeing the world with his own eyes.

If he had been willing to give up his sight, he wouldn't have needed to take these risks.

"Hajun, wait!"

I hurried up the stairs to stop him and deal with the enemy myself, but...

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Naturally, the stairs were under heavy watch.

Tiiing!

They desperately threw grenades too.

Once they got to the second floor, their escape routes were limited.

Boom!

The moment I dodged a grenade, a horrific sight unfolded at Sang Hajun's position.

Slice!

He cut out his own right eye.

Then he created a glass bead with a skill and placed it in the empty socket.

[It's done. I can see now.]

My throat tightened, and I couldn't say a word.

I couldn't even imagine how he had felt when he cut out his own eye.

Bang!

A short, precise gunshot pierced the second-floor signboard.

The enemy fell without even managing a scream.

"I-it's over!"

"Crazy... Even the team leader got taken out?"

The remaining hunters tried to run after confirming that Aura of Aggravation had been lifted.

I pulled the trigger without hesitation.

This time, the bullets didn't feel wasted.

Ting, tiiing!

Bullets buried themselves in the backs of the fleeing hunters.

"Is it... over?"

"Team Leader!"

I forced my aching body up and headed toward the sewer.

Maintaining Four Seasons for so long was taking a toll on me.

"Juwon, take care of Hajun. Yuna!"

"Got it! I'm going!"

The collapsed wall in the corner of the Underground Shopping Mall.

The passage leading to the sewer was unnervingly quiet.

The situation over there should have been five against one.

Even if the narrow space favored Team Leader Go Jiho, I couldn't expect a good outcome.

But right now, I dared to hope for that miracle.

"Team Leader!"

I still had my Transcendence skill active, so I knew before I even arrived.

There were five bodies in the sewer.

Team Leader Go Jiho had defeated all of them alone.

He really was a monster.

Yet Go Jiho himself couldn't have come through it unharmed.

He leaned against the collapsed wall, breathing as though he might stop at any moment.

His shield was riddled with huge holes, but he still held on to it.

"Team Leader! Stay awake!"

Kim Yuna hurriedly poured a Recovery Potion over his wounds.

The parts covered by ballistic plates were intact, but he had a serious gunshot wound in his abdomen.

His internal organs had probably been damaged too.

"There are potions in that guy's and that bastard's vests!"

After pouring my own potion over Go Jiho and his wounds, I searched the dead hunters' tactical vests for more.

We poured potions over him and his wounds until they barely closed...

But he'd lost so much blood that he couldn't properly support himself.

"Team Leader, are you okay?"

"... Kang Hyun, get the team out of here."

"All right!"

I tried to carry Go Jiho on my back, but the difference in our builds was too great.

Han Juwon, who had arrived later, carried him instead.

"I'll do it! The deputy leader needs to find the way."

Right. I was the deputy leader.

I looked over at Sang Hajun.

A glass bead gleamed where his right eye should have been.

It was so clear I could see through to the other side.

"Hajun, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

There was no way he was fine.

He had ripped out his eyeball without anesthetic and shoved a foreign object into the socket.

He would soon suffer from inflammation and infection.

Kim Yuna fed him the Tower's antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine with trembling hands.

I asked again.

"What the hell were you thinking, doing something that reckless?"

"... I couldn't become a burden to the team."

I'd forgotten for a moment.

How cruel and terrifying this Tower was.

I had been arrogant.

I was so ashamed of that arrogance that I could barely stand it.

But I had to endure it for now.

I was acting as the team leader.

Go Jiho, carried on Han Juwon's back, dropped his shield and gave a faint laugh.

"You bastard... Are you rubbing it in that I'm dead weight now?"

"... That's right. Get up if you've got a complaint."

Sang Hajun replied with an uncharacteristic joke.

"Wow, Hajun got handsome while I wasn't looking. Hurry up and grab the loot."

Without a word, we quickly gathered only the valuable loot.

This was the price of Go Jiho's blood.

We couldn't dare leave it behind.

"We're heading for the nearest sewer exit. Shoot anything that moves."

"All right, let's go."

After walking and walking through the dark sewers, we finally reached the Interfloor Zone.

"All right, put him down here."

"... Why isn't he getting better?"

Despite pouring Recovery Potions over him, Go Jiho couldn't get up.

The Goblin Merchant saw him and recoiled in shock.

"Human, what have you people done?!"

"... What?"

"Your companion... Their Mana Heart has been hit. And by a very dangerous skill."

So that was why he wasn't healing properly.

Had it been the dead hunter's skill?

"What does that mean?"

"The Mana Heart is damaged, and magic power is leaking out. It's a fatal wound for a hunter who has been active for a long time."

No way...

Was it like a side effect of the Body Modification Drug?

I'd heard the Beta Team leader had taken it.

When someone took the Body Modification Drug, they had to enter the Tower regularly for their body to remain stable.

More accurately, they needed a high concentration of magic power.

Go Jiho had been an active hunter for a long time, so his body had been somewhat optimized for magic power...

But his Mana Heart had been damaged, meaning he couldn't retain that magic power anymore.

This was bad.

If we escaped like this, Team Leader Go Jiho would soon waste away and die, just like someone who had taken the Body Modification Drug.

"Then how do we fix it? Don't you have some medicine?"

"It's serious internal damage. Recovery Potions and Panaceas can't fix it. I don't have medicine like that either."

The Goblin Interfloor Merchant spoke.

"The Regular Shop outside might have it."

"... Couldn't we get it at a hospital on the seventh floor?"

Hospitals dropped plenty of rare treatments.

If there was even the slightest chance, I could go back up to the seventh floor alone.

But the Goblin Merchant shook its head without hesitation.

"You'd have to reach at least the eighth floor to get something like that."

"..."

We had to leave through the Fixed Exit on the sixth floor first and visit a shop.

At least he wasn't going to die immediately.

After sorting out my thoughts, I bought some miscellaneous items from the Goblin Merchant.

I needed to make a sled to move Go Jiho.

"Everyone, eat. You won't even be able to move if you don't."

"Kang Hyun..."

[Sleight of Hand skill level has increased to 8.]

Footnotes:

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