How the Regressed Munchkin Chews Up the Tower - H.R.M.C.U.T Chapter 6 (Part 2):

‘About 2,000 steps, maybe?’

Yujin mentally counted the stairs he had climbed.

It seemed about right.

For ordinary people, it wasn’t an easy climb, but it wasn’t entirely impossible either.

Only after ascending them could one reach the 1st floor.

Hwaaaaaaa-!

As he stepped onto the final stair, the sprawling tutorial floor below vanished, and a completely new world unfolded before him.

“…It’s been a while.”

The 1st Floor of the Tower of Light.

Also known as [Terra], the great city that served as the homeland for all players.

To be honest, Yujin couldn’t jokingly claim he’d missed it, but there was a certain familiarity that felt oddly welcoming.

He’d spent ten years coming and going like it was his daily routine, after all.

A towering castle that seemed to touch the heavens, and massive walls stretching 100 kilometers in diameter.

Constructed entirely of pristine white stone, Terra was majestic, beautiful, and mystical, like the capital of a medieval empire from a fantasy tale brought to life.

“No one’s here yet.”

That was only natural.

Only Yujin’s tutorial floor had concluded abnormally fast.

Elsewhere, players were likely still running for their lives from summoned boss monsters.

Even the faster ones would only just be starting their treasure hunts.

Thus, among the tens of thousands of players summoned to the Tower, Yujin had reached the 1st floor faster than anyone.

Heh.

Yujin grinned.

Hadn’t Didaskalia said it itself on the tutorial floor?

“The 【Akasha System】 loves achievements.”

First, greatest, strongest, fastest, impossible, and so on.

That meant one thing.

■ You have cleared the tutorial floor first.
■ You are the first to enter the 1st floor.
■ Achievement 『Frontrunner』 unlocked.
■ Achievement Reward: Skill 『Strike [E]』 granted.

■ 『Strike [E]』: Slightly increases attack power.

Well, this was more like it.

The rewards Yujin had earned so far had been disproportionately grand.

But this was the kind of reward that felt appropriate.

In a 100-floor Tower, he’d only just set foot on the 1st floor, hadn’t he?

Considering the difficulty, a skill like this was something to be grateful for.

Back in his first run, he’d seen someone climb to the 20th floor with just 『Strike [E]』.

Though, sadly, they died to the 20th floor’s boss.

“Still, it’s useful early on.”

Skills and traits, no matter their rank, were better than nothing.

Yujin deftly acquired the skill and began walking.

His destination was, naturally, the interior of the towering Terra before him.

“There’s some stuff to pick up there, right?”

Most weren’t particularly impressive, but a few were items Yujin absolutely needed to acquire.

There were also plenty of things that would help the players he planned to nurture later.

Humming a tune, Yujin approached Terra.

Having spent far more time here than in his cramped real-world goshiwon, this place felt far more familiar.

He stepped onto the path he’d walked countless times, as if for the first time.

“Please halt. We need to verify your identity.”

As he neared the city gate, someone blocked his way.

A resident.

To players, they were known as NPCs.

They inhabited various parts of the Tower, sometimes offering help, other times stabbing players in the back.

“Been a while, Enend.”

Yujin raised a hand in greeting.

The NPC guard named Enend widened his eyes.

“Y-you know me?”

“Of course I do.”

He’d seen the guy for about eight years and seven months, give or take.

Besides, this guy was a valuable friend—one who’d hand out decent items if you got close enough.

For now, though, all Enend offered was a wary gaze, no items in sight.

“Hurry up with the identity check. I want to get inside.”

“…Please wait a moment.”

Enend looked flustered but quickly regained his composure and began verifying Yujin’s identity.

The process was simple.

He checked the information recorded in the 【Akasha System】.

Naturally, his access was far more limited than an administrator’s, so he could only see a fraction of the data. Still, he could at least confirm a player’s name, level, and title.

“Name: Sung Yujin. Level… Huh?!”

Enend’s eyes nearly popped out.

And understandably so.

A player who had just cleared the tutorial floor and stepped onto the 1st floor was at level 7.

It was likely a number he’d never seen before.

Most players setting foot on the 1st floor were level 1, with only a rare few reaching level 2.

Yujin had been the same in his first run.

‘I was Level 1.’

Except for maybe three or four people like Zygote or the Sword Empress, everyone was probably the same.

But level 7?

Enend, doubting his own eyes, rubbed them vigorously.

But nothing changed.

Before his eyes, the same text floated.

■ Name: 『Sung Yujin』
■ Level: 『7』
■ Title: 『None』

“Done checking? I’m going in.”

Patting the shoulder of the stunned Enend, Yujin didn’t wait for a reply and strode toward the city gate.

The starting city, Terra.

A place of despair for some, hatred for others, and hope for a few.

“I’m back.”

Yujin’s voice carried softly on the wind, echoing quietly through the streets of Terra.

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!

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