How the Regressed Munchkin Chews Up the Tower - H.R.M.C.U.T Chapter 23 (Part 1):

“Do you understand now why I did that?”

How much time had passed?

Perhaps his anger had subsided, as Yujin’s tone had shifted back to polite speech.

Ishia, the recipient of his question, didn’t even have the strength to twitch a finger, but she managed a weak nod.

If she didn’t, she’d have to endure that hell all over again.

‘What the hell am I supposed to have understood?!’

Of course, she hadn’t comprehended a single word Yujin said.

She’d been so focused on desperately trying to avoid getting hit even once more—how could she have had the mental capacity to listen to him? His words were nothing but faint noise, drowned out by the sound of blows, like white static in the background.

Even so, the Sword Empress didn’t dare ask him to repeat himself.

“Good.”

Yujin, having stopped his onslaught, nodded with a look of satisfaction.

“That’s settled, then.”

His gaze shifted from Ishia to Park Jihoo, who lay sprawled on the ground, motionless.

“Hey, you dead?”

*Tap tap—*

He nudged Jihoo’s head with the tip of his foot.

“Ugh… ughh…”

Thankfully, he was still alive.

Though his arms and legs were thoroughly broken from resisting too fiercely.

“So, what was this guy’s name again?”

Yujin wanted to hear it directly, but seeing as Jihoo wouldn’t be regaining consciousness anytime soon, he turned to Ishia.

“P-Park Jihoo.”

As expected, it was a name he didn’t recognize.

“How’d you end up traveling with this guy?”

“Well…”

Ishia quickly recounted the events that had transpired in Terra.

“So, the people who came up from the same tutorial floor as Jihoo all call him the War Demon.”

“What did you say?”

Yujin’s eyes gleamed.

“W-War Demon…”

“Puhahaha!”

When Ishia confirmed it again, laughter burst from Yujin’s lips.

“No way, you’re telling me *this* is him?”

To think this pathetic kid was the actual War Demon.

He’d thought there was no way to track him down, planning to search slowly after ascending to the higher floors, but…

‘To think I’d find him so easily.’

He’d come for the Sword Empress and ended up with the War Demon as well.

When things went well, they *really* went well!

‘And I’ve already found two of them on just the 1st Floor.’

Only one remained, someone he hadn’t yet decided on.

Of course, neither the Sword Empress nor the War Demon had expressed any willingness to join him, but such trivial details didn’t matter. Once Yujin set his mind to something, they had no choice in the matter.

‘The War Demon, huh.’

Unlike with the Sword Empress, he hadn’t yet found a suitable gift for this guy.

‘What would be good for him?’

In his first run, the War Demon had likely used the 『Dragon God Armor [A]』.

It was an all-in-one item combining armor and gauntlets, perfect for both offense and defense.

Unlike the 『Black Wing [A]』, however, he had no information on where to obtain it.

‘Not like you’d find something like that on the 1st Floor anyway.’

In that case, he’d need to find something decent for immediate use.

Yujin furrowed his brow in thought, and Ishia swallowed hard, terrified of what this lunatic might do next.

“Oh, right.”

Snapping out of his thoughts, Yujin looked at Ishia.

“What’s your name, by the way?”

Come to think of it, he only knew her as the Sword Empress, not her real name.

“I-Ishia.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she let out a small sigh and revealed her name.

She really didn’t want to tell him, but refusing might mean reliving that hellish experience.

“I’m Sung Yujin, so just call me whatever’s comfortable.”

As he spoke, Yujin reached for the 『Black Wing [A]』 hanging at his waist.

*Flinch—!*

‘Wh-why?’

Ishia’s body trembled.

Had she done something wrong?

Was he drawing his sword again?

In less than a second, a thousand thoughts raced through her mind.

But her fears were unfounded.

“Here, take this. I meant to give it to you earlier, but now’s the time.”

“…What?”

A gift?

Unable to process it immediately, she tilted her head in confusion.

“It’s a sword called 『Black Wing [A]』. It’s an A-rank item right now, but it’ll probably drop to C-rank once you take it.”

She didn’t understand what he meant.

But compared to her own sword, the 『Crimson Lotus [E]』, it looked incomparably superior, and she instinctively reached out for it.

“Ah.”

The sensation of the hilt in her palm was almost euphoric.

Even though she hadn’t done anything special, it felt as if she and the sword had become one.

Ishia gazed at the black blade with dreamy eyes.

“It’s a growth-type item, so if you nurture it well, it’ll be far better than most swords.”

Yujin added a few more explanations, but Ishia wasn’t listening.

She was completely entranced by the sense of unity with the sword.

*Heh.*

Yujin smirked inwardly at the sight.

The Sword Empress was indeed the Sword Empress.

Her talent and focus when it came to swords were unmatched.

Within the Tower, aside from Yujin himself, there was likely no one who could rival her skill.

‘Looks like she likes it, so that’s good.’

Since it was the sword the Sword Empress had originally wielded, there couldn’t have been a better gift.

‘It’s a bit off from the original plan, but…’

What did it matter?

As long as the destination was reached, the path didn’t matter.

And with things progressing this way, he could start their training even faster, couldn’t he?

‘This is pretty exhausting.’

Yujin hadn’t just beaten the Sword Empress and the War Demon for no reason.

Far from it—violence was the last thing on his mind.

By relentlessly striking them with his scabbard, he’d forcibly instilled combat-ready stances into them.

They weren’t used to it yet, so it would take time to see results, but a few more months of this…

‘They’ll have a solid foundation.’

It was hundreds of times faster than building experience by hunting monsters or skills alone.

Of course, the process came with the rather significant side effect of pain, but that was something they’d have to endure on their own.

‘Anyway, the Sword Empress is more or less sorted, so now it’s this guy’s turn.’

Dangun

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