How the Regressed Munchkin Chews Up the Tower - H.R.M.C.U.T Chapter 29 (Part 1):

“So?”

Yujin stared at the two fidgeting people with a sullen expression.

“Well, it’s just… he looked so pitiful, so we thought we’d at least get him a meal…”

“You got money?”

The polite speech that had briefly returned vanished again.
That meant Yujin wasn’t pleased with the situation.

“Could you maybe buy it for him, Yujin-ssi?”

Ishia said with an awkward smile.

“Well, well, look at the saint here, the great saint has arrived.”

Of course, it had no effect on Yujin.

“Why the hell should I buy food for some idiot like that?”

*Idiot*, really?

Wasn’t that a bit harsh?

Ishia, with her perfectly normal sense of reasoning, shot Yujin a look filled with discontent.

But it was only for a moment.

Catching the feral glint in Yujin’s eyes, she quietly lowered her gaze.

‘Never, *ever* provoke that lunatic.’

If she did, it’d be the end of her.

Forget the meal—she’d be dragged out in no time, forced to dance a bloody tango with a Red Goblin, drenched in gore.

Ishia was known among her friends for her subtle charm, but in front of Yujin, she couldn’t even hand out her business card.

That’s how much of a *top-tier lunatic* Yujin was.

“I’ll pay you back later.”

Come on, it’s just one meal—how much could it cost?

Even selling a few random drops from hunting would cover meals at an inn like this for days.

She wasn’t sure about the exact prices, though.

“Hmm.”

At Ishia’s words, Yujin furrowed his brow.

But he didn’t object further.

If she was paying with her own money, there was no need to stop her.

Instead, he made it crystal clear.

“You’re buying with *your* money. When we settle later, I’ll deduct it properly, so don’t try to weasel out of it.”

“I’m not gonna weasel out, okay?”

What did he take her for, a scammer?

Ishia gave Yujin a quick glare before seating the man and ordering food.

A rich, meaty broth soup, soft bread, and a perfectly seared steak.

The man hesitated briefly at the sight of the food but soon gave in to his hunger, devouring it ravenously.

Yujin watched him for a moment before suddenly asking,

“So, who’s this guy you dragged in, anyway?”

One glance was enough to tell he wasn’t normal.

Not completely unhinged, but definitely not in his right mind.

Sitting at the same table as someone like that didn’t exactly put Yujin in a great mood.

“Well, here’s how it happened…”

Ishia calmly recounted what she’d heard.

Her heart still felt heavy, but she didn’t let it show.

For some reason, she didn’t want to appear weak in front of Yujin.

‘If I look soft, that lunatic will just call me pathetic and grind me harder!’

It was a guess, but a pretty accurate one.

“I felt a bit bad for him, and I thought if we left him alone, he might cause trouble. I figured a meal might help him feel better.”

Yujin listened quietly, nodding before speaking.

“What a complete moron. So, you’re saying you got played for a sucker?”

“…What?”

How did he even arrive at *that* conclusion?

She couldn’t fathom the circuitry of this lunatic’s brain.

Well, that’s why he was a lunatic, after all.

“Listen up. How many people in Terra do you think are like this guy?”

Yujin jerked his chin toward the man eating his meal.

“Uh, I don’t know?”

How could she?

The only player she’d seen today was this guy—one person.

“Probably about 30% are in a similar state. And tomorrow, that number’s likely to grow.”

“30% is… how many?”

30%?

Without knowing the total number of players, she couldn’t even guess.

“There’s about 20,000 players total, so roughly 6,000, give or take.”

“S-six *thousand*?”

That’s absurd.

Could that many people really have ended up as wrecks like this?

“Think I’m exaggerating?”

Yujin snorted, as if it were obvious.

“If you don’t believe me, go take a look around. You’ll probably find most of them slumped in alleys, crying their eyes out.”

That’s how it was in the first run.

The Tower of Light was far too cruel for ordinary people to handle.

How many times in life does someone witness another person’s death?

Here, the moment you enter the tutorial floor, dozens die.

People who were right beside you moments ago.

People you were talking to.

People you greeted.

In an instant, they’re reduced to chunks of meat, soaked in blood.

How many players could stay sane after witnessing that?

For any normal person, despair and fear were inevitable.

Yujin had been the same.

He’d felt fear in the face of overwhelming violence and grotesque carnage.

Of course, he shook it off quickly, but others couldn’t do the same.

In every alley, players who’d given up on life hid away.

“You gonna feed every single one of them?”

One person? Sure, she could manage.

With some effort, maybe ten.

But a hundred? Two hundred? A thousand? Six thousand?

No matter how hard Ishia tried, it was impossible.

“Th-That’s….”

“So leave it. That’s not helping—it’s just letting idiots take advantage of you.”

Dangun

I'm currently Translating the following novels: "Labyrinth Exploration 101" & "The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring " If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

•