WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B.
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 63: 063
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We ate in the dining room of Choi Yejin's mansion.
It was quite an extravagant meal.
Thick steaks that burst with juice when bitten into.
Fresh vegetables, smooth mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables, pasta.
It even came with strange ingredients like caviar and truffles.
This menu had practically been smothered in money.
“Is it good? Eat as much as you want. If there isn't enough, tell the chef to make more.”
“As expected of a Highest Floors Hunter. You really have a lot of money. You even employ a private chef.”
“You got two hundred billion won too. You could do this much.”
“Now that I think about it, you're right.”
The food had been freshly prepared by the chef employed by Choi Yejin's household.
So this was the world of the rich?
You could enjoy instant fine dining without leaving your house.
When I bought a house, I should hire a chef too.
I was going to make plenty of money anyway, so I could afford this much luxury.
As I happily stuffed myself with food...
Glug, glug, glug.
She poured whiskey into a rocks glass and sent it my way.
“A meal isn't complete without alcohol, right? Here. Drink up, Baek Jiho.”
“If I do, Choi Yejin, what will it cost me?”
“Everything...!”
“Oh.”
Huh? She got that?
Had this person played games back in the day?
This was the first time I'd seen anyone get my World of Warcraft joke.
I pushed away the glass she offered and shouted.
“I will not be a slave to alcohol! I will be the master of the world!”
“Jiho, what are you doing?”
“I'm reenacting one of Heavensmile's famous lines.”
“I don't know what that is... but I'm glad you two seem to have made up...”
As I traded nonsense with Choi Yejin, noona said that with visible relief.
She must have been worried about her little brother having a battle of wills with a Highest Floors Hunter.
But Choi Yejin and I weren't sworn enemies.
What was the point of staying hostile until the end?
Now that we knew neither of us was an easy opponent, there was even less reason to bare our teeth.
Besides...
‘Choi Yejin must want something from me too.’
Glance.
I turned my eyes toward Choi Yejin.
She was gulping down whiskey, using steak as a snack.
Was Choi Yejin an alcoholic?
She'd been drinking nonstop since we first met.
Was her liver okay?
Even a Hunter's liver would get wrecked quickly if they drank strong whiskey like that.
Did Highest Floors Hunters have different liver durability too?
When our eyes met, she spoke again.
“You guys. Drink. Drink. This stuff's good. What about Jiho's noona over there? You look like you enjoy alcohol.”
“I have to drive...”
“Ah, what a shame. It's really good liquor.”
Choi Yejin definitely wanted something from me.
Yet she was calmly offering us drinks.
Was she planning to bring it up after we finished eating?
I wasn't the type who could tolerate this kind of dragging things out.
“So, Choi Yejin. What is this ‘proposal’ you want to make me?”
Typical estrogen guy. He runs every possible scenario through his head and overthinks what question to ask.
Typical testosterone guy. He asks directly.
And I was an Extreme Lunatic Hell real man.
When it was obvious we both had business with each other, dragging things out wasn't my style.
Choi Yejin swirled her glass and answered.
“You're really impatient. Don't you know it's polite to discuss things after the meal is over?”
“I'm Korean. We're the people of ppalli-ppalli.”
“Well, it's nothing major. I'll carry you, so hurry up and reach Floor 41, then join my party.”
“As expected.”
It was the proposal I'd guessed she would make.
Hadn't it become fairly well known in the Raid Team that she repeatedly sparred with and trained lower-ranking Hunters to find party members for Floor 41?
└Jeong Gitae (33): If noona sees a newbie with promise, she keeps calling them over and putting them through brutal sparring. She keeps doing it because she says we need even one more Highest Floors party member.
└Park Dohu (31): It's kind of sad to watch. There are no Hard-rank Hunters, and they can't break through Floor 41 because there aren't enough people. But no matter how hard you work Normal-rank Hunters, how are they supposed to clear the Highest Floors...
└Oh Sanghyeon (35): Still, it helps them a lot, doesn't it?
...
There were around sixty High Floor Hunters in the Raid Team.
Most of them had been put through the wringer by Choi Yejin.
She found talented Hunters, trained them to death, and tried to send them to the Highest Floors.
There were only two Highest Floors Hunters in Korea.
Kim Taeseok and Choi Yejin.
The two of them couldn't clear Floor 41 alone.
As a desperate measure, they tried to raise talented Hunters from Normal-rank backgrounds and make use of them on the Highest Floors.
Of course, how could that possibly work?
The Floor 40 boss floor wasn't called the Normal-rank filter for nothing.
No matter how much they were carried, Normal Hunters could never break through Floor 40.
In the end, Korea had only two Highest Floors Hunters, Kim Taeseok and Choi Yejin, for a long time.
Their climb had stopped at Floor 41.
Then I appeared.
“Hey, Baek Jiho. You're from Hard-rank, and you're in the late High Floors, right? What Floor are you on now? Just tell me. I'll come carry you. We'll blast through to Floor 41 on the fast track and go rescue old man Kim Taeseok. With the three of us, we can clear Floor 42.”
“...”
“Fuck. I've been stuck here for three years. I want to clear Floor 42 already. Save the old man too. Do you know how much those Japanese bastards and big-nosed bastards mock us for being Floor 41 losers at every regular London meeting? It's fucking awful.”
“...”
“You're always saying on Hunter Gallery that you'll earn lots of Points and save the people of our country. Quit that idiotic persona crap already, save old man Kim Taeseok, and let's clear Floor 42. Raising our climbing floor is real patriotism, you know? We'll earn more Points if we reach Floor 42. Right? Huh?”
A Hunter presumed to be from Hard-rank and in the late High Floors.
King Jjangho had appeared like a comet.
Of course she was desperate.
This was a chance to recruit a new Hunter from Hard-rank, rescue Hunter Kim Taeseok, and clear the cursed Floor 41.
That was probably why she couldn't bring herself to throw me out even after I provoked her so much.
“Hmm. A carry...”
Slurp.
I picked up the cup in front of me and drank some water.
But it had a sharp taste.
No, this was alcohol.
When had she switched it out?
A nimble cup swap befitting a Highest Floors Hunter.
I set down the whiskey glass and spoke.
“I don't need a carry.”
“No, I'm frustrated, that's why. You know the late High Floors take at least a month per floor, right? By the time you reach Floor 41, the Republic of Korea will have already collapsed.”
“Just wait about sixteen days. I should reach Floor 41 by then.”
“Didn't you understand what I said? Even if five Hard-rank Hunters gather, the late High Floors take at least a month each. But you're the only one in your party from Hard-rank, aren't you?”
“...”
“Don't let your pride get in the way. Let me carry you and join our party without making a fuss.”
Choi Yejin kept insisting that she carry me.
But I really didn't need one.
I had a free pass to Floor 41 anyway, one floor per day.
Then Choi Yejin suddenly scowled.
“Tell me honestly. You're farming lower floors because of that fucking persona, aren't you?”
“I'm not farming lower floors. I'm climbing at the Floor I'm supposed to be on.”
“Bullshit. You keep posting on Hunter Gallery about climbing the Middle Floors. This country is seriously fucked, yet a guy from Hard-rank reaches the High Floors and wastes time on lower floors?”
“All of that is real. I'm really a Floor 24 Hunter.”
“You selfish bastard. Are you saying you don't care if the country collapses?”
“Wow.”
Here I was, climbing the Tower day and night and raking in Points to pull the Republic of Korea out of the pit of destruction.
And she called me selfish?
That got to me.
I had brought some of it on myself by keeping up the persona.
Still, it was a little unfair, and I was getting angry...!
Choi Yejin continued her not-quite-persuasion.
“Are you really going to be this selfish? Fuck, how long have you even been a Hunter? Old man Kim Taeseok and I worked our dicks off earning Points to save the people of the Republic of Korea, including you. We did everything! If you became a Hunter from Hard-rank, can't you help me out a little?!”
“You don't even have one.”
“You bastard, don't sexually harass me. Anyway, if you're from Hard-rank, you should rescue old man Kim Taeseok. Do you know how dedicated that man is? You must've climbed after reading Hunter Kim Taeseok's strategy posts too.”
“You're the one who said something like that first... And don't worry, I'll rescue Hunter Kim Taeseok in sixteen days.”
“You fucking bastard! Are you really going to keep doing this to the end?”
Maybe she felt like her persuasion wasn't working, because Choi Yejin was practically yelling at me now.
She was like a child throwing a tantrum.
Could you believe this person was five years older than me?
Like a crazed battle maniac who spent every day killing monsters inside the Tower, she was aggressive and unreasonable.
Still, this was troublesome.
‘It doesn't seem like she'll ever give up if I just explain normally.’
Well, that made sense.
How could she give up on a new Hunter from Hard-rank who had appeared for the first time in three years?
Even knowing there was no chance, she had been desperate enough to train Hunters from Normal-rank backgrounds for years.
Of course she wanted to carry me to Floor 41 as quickly as possible.
But I truly, sincerely didn't need a carry or anything else.
‘If anything, Choi Yejin spending time carrying me would be a huge loss for our country.’
The Points Choi Yejin could earn on the Highest Floors would decrease sharply.
She earned millions of Points for the Republic of Korea every month.
If she lost Points just to carry me, the country's destruction would be brought that much closer.
“You fucking bastard. If you keep playing hard to get like this, it won't be fun. I'll go to your house and cause a scene if I have to.”
Even so, Choi Yejin didn't seem willing to give up on me.
Did I have a choice?
“Here, Choi Yejin.”
“What?”
“Look at this. Status window.”
I called up my status window.
Glowing words appeared in the air.
[Baek Jiho (Republic of Korea: Floor 24)]
[74,100 Points]
The number Floor 24.
“...?”
Her eyes opened so wide that I could almost hear a sound effect.
Choi Yejin stared blankly at the status window.
I spoke quietly.
“I'm really on Floor 24.”
I really was climbing one floor a day.
That was why I didn't need a carry.
But whether she was listening to me or not...
Choi Yejin only stared at the status window with vacant eyes.
* * *
-Vroooom.
On the way home in noona's car, she spoke with a worried expression as she drove.
“Jiho, was it okay to show Hunter Choi Yejin your status window? It was supposed to be a secret.”
“I didn't have a choice. If I hadn't done that, she looked ready to come all the way to our house and bother me.”
In the end, I revealed my status window to Choi Yejin.
I revealed that I wasn't an ordinary Hunter from Hard-rank, but an abnormal Hunter who climbed one floor every day.
“If word gets out that you're special... it'll be much more dangerous than before.”
Noona seemed worried that my information would spread.
It wasn't a good thing for people to learn how special I was while I was still only in the Middle Floors.
Of course, I didn't want to reveal it if I could avoid it.
China was already targeting me.
If information about my special nature spread too, there was no telling what might happen.
To put a leash on me before I could grow any stronger, China might even send in its Highest Floors Hunters.
They had more than a hundred Highest Floors Hunters...
Those bastards really did have an absurdly large population.
Their weight class was on a completely different level.
Still, I wasn't too worried.
Because I trusted Choi Yejin.
“It's Choi Yejin, not just anyone else. A patriot who stayed in this country until the end. She won't leak my secret easily.”
“Still...”
“And I hid the fact that I'm a wizard until the end, didn't I? She'll probably just think I'm someone with incredible talent even among Hard-rank Hunters.”
Well... worrying about it now wouldn't change anything.
The water had already been spilled.
All I could do was hope Choi Yejin wouldn't leak my information any more than necessary.
As I sat in the passenger seat on our way home...
-Iing... Iing...
A groaning sound came from somewhere.
It was coming from inside Hyeji's handbag in the back seat.
Na Hyeji jumped in surprise.
“Oh right! Iing Iing!”
“Wow, Hyeji, you're awful. You locked Iing Iing in your handbag and only remembered now? You're disqualified as an owner! If you're going to be like this, give Iing Iing to me.”
“I'm sorry, Iing Iing! I should've taken you out sooner!”
Hyeji hurriedly opened her handbag.
Poro... roong...
A weak-looking Iing Iing crawled out, limp and listless.
“Iing Iing! I'm sorry. It must have been so stuffy in there. You had a hard time.”
-Iing... Iing... Iing...
“Huh?”
Hyeji was holding Iing Iing and stroking her when she suddenly looked surprised.
What had the fairy said?
She murmured quietly.
“So... you used a lot of energy helping Jiho? That's why you have no strength left?”
“Huh? Iing Iing helped me?”
“Yes.”
I turned to look at Iing Iing.
Unlike how she usually scattered bright rainbow light and bounced around energetically, her rainbow glow was faint now, and she hung there limply without any energy.
She was clearly exhausted.
She had used a lot of energy helping me?
Could it be...?
“Iing Iing. Did you... strengthen my body while I was sparring with Choi Yejin?”
-Iing...!
“She says that's right.”
“...!”
The Protective Aura I had used while sparring with Choi Yejin.
It turned out to be Iing Iing's E-skill.
My physical ability was now close to that of a Highest Floors Hunter.
But that overwhelming defense beyond even that had all come from Iing Iing!
I gently stroked her.
“Iing Iing! Thank you! I had no idea...! I thought I was just naturally tough...!”
-Iing... Iing...
“Jiho, Iing Iing says she absolutely didn't want to see you lose.”
“Gasp! Iing Iing! Thank you so much! You're the best!”
-Iing!
This cute, grateful, admirable, adorable, lovable little thing!!!
To think she had secretly used her power because she didn't want to see me lose.
Great Iing Iing. King Iing Iing. God Iing Iing.
She was truly the perfect fairy.
How could a fairy this cute, lovable, admirable, and amazing exist?
Compared to her owner Na Hyeji, she was a hundred million light-years more admirable.
Iing Iing had gone beyond EX-grade. She could be called an Extreme Lunatic Hell fairy.
‘If Iing Iing hadn't been there... I wouldn't have drawn. I would have lost.’
If I had used magic, I would have won...
But in a pure hand-to-hand fight without magic, I would have been beaten in an instant.
Then I wouldn't have been able to preserve my pride as an Extreme Lunatic Hell Hunter.
The fact that I had lost to an ordinary Hard-rank Hunter would have followed me around like a label for the rest of my life.
But thanks to Iing Iing, I endured the fight against Choi Yejin without using magic.
Thanks to her, I protected my pride.
I was able to face Choi Yejin on equal footing without shrinking back.
I was simply grateful to Iing Iing.
“Iing Iing. Thank you so much!”
-Iing...!
“You admirable little thing!!!”
Unable to hold back, I vigorously petted her all over.
She giggled happily.
And so.
My first meeting with Choi Yejin ended safely.
We headed home.
* * *
As soon as I got home, I picked up my smartphone and accessed a website.
It was HunterNet's Raid Team board.
[Did Yejin-noona meet Blue Dot? How was he?]
[Waaah... This Hunter guy wants a girlfriend...]
[LOL The newbie must've gotten the shit kicked out of him today]
[Recommend me dinner]
[What the fuck is with the exchange rate?]
[Hey, are there artifacts that can fake a status window?]
The Raid Team board was a mess as always.
It looked like today's topic was the real-life fight between Choi Yejin and me.
One poster caught my eye.
[Hey, are there artifacts that can fake a status window?]
The author was Choi Yejin.
My status window must have left quite an impression on her for her to make a post like that.
I read the contents.
[Post Title: Hey, are there artifacts that can fake a status window?]
[Author: Choi Yejin (41)]
Is there some illusion artifact that can fake the climbing Floor and Points on a status window?
For example, making someone who's on a really high Floor look like they're on a lower Floor.
As far as I know, there aren't any artifacts like that.
But just in case.
If any of you bastards have information, report it.
└Park Gyu (38): Like something like that would exist. The Tower and the system are higher laws, so they cannot be interfered with or disguised by any method. You know that not even Grade 1 artifacts, much less Unique-grade artifacts, can ever interfere with the Tower or system, so why are you posting this kind of shit?
└└Choi Yejin (41): I know that too, but there's something bothering me... Anyway, got it. But why the fuck are you talking like that?
└└Park Gyu (38): I am trying to establish a persona too, following Blue Dot's example. But did you see some kind of hallucination? Why are you suddenly talking about status-window illusions? You kept chugging reverse-aging potions because you thought your young liver could handle lots of alcohol... In the end, even your fresh liver could not withstand noona's drinking capacity.
└└Choi Yejin (41): STFU.
└Jeong Gitae (33): More importantly, how was the newbie?
└└Choi Yejin (41): He could fight pretty well. He was strong.
└└Jeong Gitae (33): Strong? Isn't this the first time I've heard you say that? Is he really from Hard-rank?
└└Choi Yejin (41): Secret.
└└Jeong Gitae (33): Ah, what is it? I'm fucking curious...
└Hwang Mingi (30): What did the newbie look like?
└└Choi Yejin (41): A fucking skinny anchovy.
└└Hwang Mingi (30): It's not easy for a Hunter to be a skinny anchovy lol. This newbie needs this hyung to teach him some iron lifting. I need to inject him with the Marine Corps spirit. Lailai chachacha!
└└Choi Yejin (41): You'll get your ass kicked.
└└Hwang Mingi (30): ??? What, is the newbie actually High Floor? Was it really a High Floor Hunter cosplaying as someone on Floor 20? Holy shit.
└└Choi Yejin (41): Ah, fuck, it's hard to explain, but anyway, he's way stronger than you, so don't go running your mouth for no reason. I'm telling you in advance.
└Lee Hyunsu (28): Hunter Gallery's idol, Blue Dot himself, is really High Floor? This is insane lol.
└Park Dohu (31): Ah, then were the artifacts he posted before actually real? Damn, I could've bought an axe cheap.
└Kim Minjun (24): Wait, he's really High Floor?
└Im Jisu (24): LOLLLLLLLLL.
...
Comments poured in one after another.
There was no way I could stay out of this.
I left a simple comment.
└Baek Jiho (21): Just wait a little. I'll be at Floor 41 soon enough.
└└Choi Yejin (41): Hurry the fuck up. We don't have time.
└└Hwang Mingi (30): I'll call you big bro, Blue Dot. Did you happen to serve in the Marine Corps?
└└Jo Jihun (21): Wow, is he really Hard-rank?
└└Lim Doyoon (32): Either Hard-rank, or at least at the very top of Normal-rank. If he says he'll rise quickly, isn't he probably on Floor 40 now? Since he says to wait, it seems likely he can clear Floor 40.
└└Oh Sanghyeon (35): I really hope he clears Floor 40 and reaches Floor 41... Noona has suffered every day. Can we finally reach Floor 42 now?
└└Kim Jihu (37): The question is whether we can get there before the country collapses.
...
Replies came flooding in.
The notifications were too noisy.
“Let's just sleep.”
I turned off my phone and lay down in bed.
Today had been a rare outing.
It had been a while since I got fresh air outside, and I was exhausted.
As expected, a shut-in like me belonged cooped up at home.
Anyway... I had gotten acquainted with Choi Yejin, the Floor 41 Hunter.
Whether that would be a benefit or a loss...
Only time would tell.
I slowly closed my eyes.
Tomorrow was Floor 24.
Footnotes:
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