Chapter 16

Chapter 16

A building in Gangnam District, Seoul.

The Sky, the greatest guild in South Korea.

Anonymous 3861, the guild master there.

Kang Min-woo was reading an article posted on Naver.

[Kang Min-woo Challenges ‘Hard’ Difficulty!]

Kang Min-woo, who had cleared the 100th Floor of the Tower on Normal difficulty one month ago, had expressed at an official event his intention to continue on and challenge Hard difficulty.

The world record was held by the United States.

Hard difficulty, 34th Floor.

China and Japan were also challenging Hard difficulty.

Looking at it that way, Korea could be said to be rather late.

It could not be helped.

Because Kang Min-woo had no ‘Observer.’

Was that why?

When Kang Min-woo said he would challenge Hard difficulty, the reactions from netizens contained more ‘concern’ than support.

- I’m rooting for you, Hunter Kang Min-woo.

- Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard? I think you’d be better off stopping at Normal difficulty’s 100th Floor…….

- Agreed. The United States even stated flat-out that Hard difficulty is impossible without an Observer’s help.

- Normal difficulty’s 100th Floor is already an amazing record ㅠㅠㅠ

Observer.

A ‘great being’ who watched adventurers in the Tower.

Their ‘rank’ was divided into lower, middle, and upper, and the higher the rank, the more powerful they were.

When an Observer watched an adventurer, all sorts of benefits followed.

Obtaining items.

Obtaining skills.

And besides that, obtaining ‘hints’ and the like.

Adventurers who received an Observer’s help could explore the Tower far faster and more safely than adventurers who did not.

But the chance that an Observer would watch an adventurer was worse than winning the lottery. Countless adventurers were climbing the Tower, but only three adventurers were receiving an Observer’s help.

One each in the United States, China, and Japan.

‘And the United States has a middle-rank one, no less.’

Outside those countries, there was officially not a single adventurer receiving an Observer’s help.

Kang Min-woo was the same.

‘Honestly, climbing Hard difficulty as things stand is close to suicide.’

It was known that clearing Hard difficulty without an Observer’s help was that dangerous, and that impossible.

Even so, the reason Kang Min-woo had declared that he would challenge Hard difficulty was because it was ‘necessary.’

If one looked only at Kang Min-woo himself, even if he stopped challenging the Tower and settled at Normal difficulty’s 100th Floor, he would have no trouble making a living.

The money, assets, and honor he had earned so far would let his family live in luxury for three generations even if he did nothing at all.

But South Korea’s situation would not be like that.

Unless an adventurer who received an Observer’s help appeared, South Korea would be unable to advance and would remain stuck at its record of Normal Tower 100th Floor.

‘Then it’s over.’

Twenty-first-century society.

In the past, people said mountains and rivers changed in ten years, but after the Tower appeared, the world order had begun swaying every year.

What if the United States, China, and Japan kept climbing the Tower on Hard difficulty and broke through it?

What if they rose to positions as world powers that Korea could no longer reach?

Then Korea would be finished as it was.

If a country could not develop and became stagnant, it had no future.

It was not as though people did not know this.

However, no one demanded responsibility from Kang Min-woo.

Because the people of South Korea knew well how many brushes with death Kang Min-woo had endured while climbing the Tower.

That was why they supported him and worried for him at the same time.

‘When I ran simulations, I got stuck at Hard difficulty’s 3rd Floor.’

He had been using enormous capital to purchase coins and items, but the good items Kang Min-woo wanted were not listed for sale.

They were not things he could obtain just because he had money.

It was only natural.

Kang Min-woo had already acquired all the best items that could be obtained at the level of Normal difficulty.

If he wanted to obtain something better?

It would have to come from Hard difficulty clear rewards.

Or from items sponsored by an Observer.

The United States, China, and Japan.

Unless the adventurers in Hard difficulty had gone insane, those items would never appear on the market.

It was a hopeless situation.

However.

[Roasted Sweet Potato]

- Grade: D

- Effect

- Taste Bonus +10%

- Permanently increases Strength by +0.002 when consumed.

- Description: A Tower Strength Pumpkin Sweet Potato has been roasted. It is piping hot.

For some reason, this was a Roasted Sweet Potato given to him by an adventurer named Lee Woo-jin, who was trapped in a Tower of a Difficulty called ‘Mythic’ that had not even been revealed to the world.

Steam was rising in wisps along with the sweet fragrance of roasted sweet potato.

When he took one bite, the moist and sweet Roasted Sweet Potato melted softly in his mouth. Kang Min-woo finished off one Roasted Sweet Potato on the spot in an instant.

[You have consumed Roasted Sweet Potato and permanently increased Strength by 0.002.]

“...It really is delicious.”

Kang Min-woo shook his head hard.

The taste was not what mattered right now.

What mattered was that his Strength stat had increased by eating it, even if only by 0.002.

‘With this, even if I get stuck on Hard difficulty’s 3rd Floor, couldn’t I break through if I have enough time?’

Although the increase in stats was very small.

Kang Min-woo was seeing hope in Lee Woo-jin.

On top of that, Lee Woo-jin’s crops had clearly risen from E Grade to D Grade. At the same time, the stat increase had also gone from 0.001 to 0.002.

‘I need to stay in contact with Lee Woo-jin. To do that…….’

He had to give him what he wanted.

Kang Min-woo quickly typed into the search bar.

[best kimchi stew restaurants]

---

Meanwhile, Woo-jin was facing off against the Doppelganger.

The Doppelganger’s current level and abilities were as follows.

[Doppelganger][Lv. 1]

- Strength: 3

- Agility: 3

Stamina: 3

- Magic Power: 3.07

- Resistance: 0.022

Skills: Soil Tilling Lv. 3, Seed Planting Lv. 3, Harvest Lv. 2, Cold Resistance Lv. 1, Cooking Lv. 2, Stealthy Footsteps Lv. 1, Fire Resistance Lv. 1, Dark Adaptation Lv. 1

Then what about Woo-jin?

Name: Lee Woo-jin

Title: Novice Tower Farmer

Level: 6

Abilities

- Strength: 5.004

- Agility: 4

- Stamina: 4

- Magic Power: 4.08

- Resistance: 0.022

- Remaining Points: 0

Skills: Soil Tilling Lv. 4, Seed Planting Lv. 4, Harvest Lv. 3, Cold Resistance Lv. 1, Cooking Lv. 2, Stealthy Footsteps Lv. 1, Fire Resistance Lv. 1, Dark Adaptation Lv. 1

“Hehehe.”

It was truly an overwhelming difference!

His Strength was higher by 2, while his Agility, Stamina, and Magic Power were higher by 1 each.

On top of that, there was even the difference in equipment!

The Doppelganger was barehanded.

But in this body’s case.

Iron Sword Enchanted with Lightening Magic.

Sturdy Leather Armor.

Necklace of Defense.

Adventurer’s Leather Shoes.

The owner of gear worth a total of 5,800 coins.

“Isn’t this total cheating, nyah?”

“What are you talking about? It’s a fair-and-square real duel.”

“…….”

In truth, even after saying that, he felt guilty deep down.

But what could he do?

I have to survive first.

Tap-tap-tap!

Although there was a difference in equipment and level, the Doppelganger did not flinch and charged at him. Woo-jin did not dodge. He had no reason to.

When the Doppelganger came within about one meter.

Woo-jin grinned and swung the sword he was holding.

It’ll probably go flying from this one attack.

Along with a SQUELCH, or maybe a THWACK!

However.

WHOOSH!

“...Huh?”

“W-Woo-jin! It’s coming from below, nyah!”

The Doppelganger saw Woo-jin’s sword path and ducked to avoid it.

It was movement that could not possibly be seen as having copied Woo-jin’s physical abilities, which were slightly worse than the athletic reflexes of the average South Korean man.

THWAAACK!

The Doppelganger drove an uppercut straight into him.

The impact nearly knocked him over, but he barely managed to catch his balance and backed away while swinging his sword.

WHOOSH!

The Doppelganger dodged and closed in again.

Woo-jin panicked and swung his sword through empty air several times.

Each time, the Doppelganger avoided every swing and slipped inside.

WHACK, THUD!

“Wait, why is it so strong?!”

“Did you forget, nyah?! That thing is the King of Shadows, nyah. It’s incredibly strong, nyah!”

That meant it had the same stats, but its combat sense was on a completely different level.

Perhaps thanks to [Necklace of Defense], fortunately, it did not hurt even when he was hit. Still, Woo-jin decided to just run away.

He was already out of breath from swinging his sword a few times too.

…But doesn’t that thing seem to be panting too?

It was not his imagination.

The Doppelganger was currently facing Woo-jin.

And its body was heaving intermittently.

Which meant.

‘Doesn’t that mean I win if I just drag this out?’

No matter how good the Doppelganger’s combat sense was, it was level 1 and its stats were so lousy that its attacks did not hurt at all, nor did they leave any wounds.

Even if he did not dodge and simply took all its attacks, what if he waited until it was exhausted, then counterattacked?

‘Good. Let’s try it.’

Woo-jin took a combat stance again.

Both realized that they would be entering the fight again.

The Doppelganger closed in on Woo-jin.

WHACK.

WHACKWHACKWHACKWHACKWHACK!

He was getting a fist massage, but it did not hurt at all.

Naturally, the Doppelganger was the one getting tired.

Tap!

The Doppelganger stopped attacking, widened the distance, and heaved heavily, panting.

“Are you done attacking? Then it’s my turn now.”

This time, Woo-jin charged in.

The Doppelganger seemed flustered as it backed away and tried to dodge, but its movements had slowed considerably.

SQUELCH!

When he swung the sword in a wide arc, the Doppelganger failed to dodge and ended up taking the blow.

THUD!

The Doppelganger collapsed.

Woo-jin jumped in surprise and took a step back.

“...Did I defeat it?”

Blackie swallowed hard and approached cautiously.

Then he tapped the Doppelganger with the pink jelly pads of his paw.

Still lying down, the Doppelganger slowly turned its head and looked at Woo-jin and Blackie.

Startled, Blackie jumped up onto Woo-jin’s back.

“I-it’s still alive, nyah!”

Whether the Doppelganger had suffered a fatal wound or had simply run out of stamina, it was unable to stand.

Woo-jin instinctively felt it.

If he swung his sword one more time, he could defeat the Doppelganger.

If that happened, would he clear the 98th Floor of Mythic difficulty?

After all, the 98th Floor Objective was ‘Defeat the Doppelganger.’

‘No.’

Blackie had said it.

- Your current Difficulty and Floor determine the mission you’ve been assigned, nyah! Even if you go to another Difficulty or Floor, no mission will be given to you, and naturally, you can’t clear it, nyah. Returning to reality is impossible too, nyah.

Woo-jin had been assigned the mission for Mythic difficulty’s 99th Floor.

The only thing he could clear was the mission for Mythic difficulty’s 99th Floor.

In that case, even if he achieved the 98th Floor Objective of defeating the Doppelganger, it meant there would be no benefit at all.

‘In that case, I’d rather…….’

Woo-jin held out his hand to the Doppelganger and said,

“Do you want to be friends?”