How the Regressed Munchkin Chews Up the Tower - H.R.M.C.U.T Chapter 7 (Part 2):

Citadel felt the same.

He *was* curious about the former, but the latter mattered far more.

“…You know how to solve it?”

“That’s right. That flame you so idiotically let die? I can bring it back.”

Yujin nodded with confidence, and Citadel, legs trembling, staggered slightly.

“Help me! That flame is more important than my life! If you succeed, I’ll give you everything I can!”

“Ohhh, really?”

The only reason Yujin had put up with Citadel’s insults without crushing his mouth was because he’d been waiting for those exact words.

“You said it with your own mouth, didn’t you? That you’ll give me everything you can?”

His expression screamed that he wouldn’t let Citadel backtrack later, and for a moment, Citadel wondered if he’d been too hasty.

But only for a moment.

Reviving the flame was far too important.

So he nodded.

“A man doesn’t take back his word! Fine, I’ll give you whatever you ask for!”

The corners of Yujin’s mouth curled upward.

“Then hand over 『Black Wing [C]』 for starters. Oh, and while you’re at it, 『Grace [C]』 too.”

“Y-Y-You crazy bastard!”

Citadel, despite his massive frame, jumped in place with a *flinch!* as if startled.

“Who the hell are you?! How do you know about those?!”

He had every reason to be shocked.

The two items Yujin mentioned were treasures passed down through Citadel’s family for generations.

At this point in time, not a single soul besides Citadel knew of their existence!

Yet a player he’d never met, one who’d only just reached the 1st Floor, somehow did.

It was enough to make him faint.

“You don’t need to know. So, are you handing them over or not?”

Yujin bared his teeth in a grin as he asked.

“Tch, that’s…!”

Citadel couldn’t refuse.

『Black Wing[C]』 and 『Grace[C]』.

No matter how precious those items were, they couldn’t compare to the flame.

Hadn’t he just said himself that it was more important than his life?

Trembling hands and a head that barely moved, Citadel managed a nod.

“I’ll… hand them over. But you’d better succeed. If you fail, I’ll snap your neck myself!”

His eyes blazed as he glared at Yujin.

‘Now that’s reassuring.’

If Citadel had no intention of keeping his promise, he wouldn’t have been so reluctant.

“Don’t worry about that. Just wait here for a bit. I’ll be back by tomorrow with a way to revive the flame.”

Not *find* a way, but come back *with* one.

Realizing the distinction, Citadel let out a hollow chuckle.

“You’re serious. You really do know how to revive the flame.”

“Told you. Anyway, I’ll be off. Get those items I mentioned ready and wait for me.”

With that, Yujin turned and left the shop.

The NPCs’ furtive glances stung as they wondered what conversation had taken place inside.

Of course, Yujin had no intention of indulging their curiosity, so he ignored their stares and kept walking.

‘What exactly do I need again?’

He rummaged through his memories.

『Sulfur Deer’s Horn [F]』, 『Vampire Bat Membrane [F]』, 『Blue Slime’s Core[F]』, and…

The most important one.

“『Earth Dragon’s Blood [D]』.”

The first three were easy to obtain.

Outside Terra, the monsters that dropped those items were practically everywhere.

Kill a few, and he’d have them in no time.

The problem was the last one.

“Earth Dragon, huh.”

It had been a while since he’d spoken that name.

“Well, it’s not a *real* dragon.”

Compared to the dragonkind like Apocalypse of the 100th Floor or Darkness of the 90th, it was laughable to even mention it.

It was just called a dragon—more like an oversized earthworm.

Though, to be fair, it was dozens of meters long.

And strong, no doubt.

At the current level of players, even hundreds swarming it wouldn’t stand a chance.

It’d take parties of players at least Level 10 to bring it down.

Back in his first run, it had taken an absurdly long time to hunt one.

And a lot of deaths.

“Wonder if I can take it down alone?”

Yujin’s current level was 7.

For an average player, it’d be impossible.

Yet he didn’t feel like he’d lose.

If anything, his body itched with excitement at the thought of facing it.

“Guess I’ll find out when I try.”

In the tutorial floor, Yujin had gained four things.

『Blink [E]』.

『Fire Dragon Blade [E]』.

『Unity of Mind and Body [E]』.

And, last but not least, the grand 『Divinely Blessed Body [S]』.

With these, calling him an ordinary Level 7 player felt almost insulting.

With confident strides, Yujin headed toward Terra’s gates.

“Looks like they’re finally trickling in.”

He started spotting players, not just NPCs.

While he’d been handling business at [Citadel’s Golden Hammer], it seemed they’d finally arrived.

“Seems the other tutorial floors aren’t done yet.”

Their eyes, filled with fear, suggested they’d come from the same floor as Yujin.

“Keep up the good work.”

“H-Huh?”

Yujin tossed a casual greeting at Enend, who was checking the players’ identities, and slipped through the gates.

‘East first.’

The first thing he needed was 『Sulfur Deer’s Horn [F]』.

Then he’d circle clockwise, gathering the rest, and finish by taking down the Earth Dragon before returning.

Drawing the 『Fire Dragon Blade [E]』 from his waist, Yujin headed toward the Sulfur Deer’s habitat.

“Been a while since I went hunting.”

Dangun

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