How the Regressed Munchkin Chews Up the Tower - H.R.M.C.U.T Chapter 9 (Part 2):

The Earth Dragon was the boss of the 1st Floor, after all.

By defeating it, he’d opened the path for all players to advance to the next floor.

“That’s why I said I’m busy.”

He had to wrap up his business here quickly and head straight to the 2nd Floor, so he was swamped, no question about it.

Citadel fell silent.

He couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

A freshly summoned player, not even a day into the 1st Floor, had killed the Earth Dragon and opened the path?

It was a feat no player had ever accomplished before!

That Yujin could speak of it so nonchalantly left Citadel speechless, and it was no wonder.

“Move aside. You’re in the way.”

Paying him no mind, Yujin nudged Citadel with his foot—*tap tap*—and stepped up to the massive furnace.

“Fancy.”

A golden hammer was engraved on the surface of the furnace, which stood a full 3 meters tall.

The name [Citadel’s Golden Hammer] likely came from this furnace.

“Isn’t there a saying about pearls on a pig’s neck? This is it.”

The furnace’s quality was exceptional.

Probably around 『Furnace [B]』, right?

Something like this would be hard to find even in cities above the 50th Floor—a true masterpiece.

That Citadel was using it to churn out such garbage was what made him the odd one.

Yujin circled the furnace, admiring it, before tossing in the materials he’d prepared.

He spread the 『Vampire Bat Membrane [F]』 across the bottom, stacked the 『Sulfur Deer’s Horn [F]』 on top, and carefully placed the 『Blue Slime’s Core [F]』 in between.

The process was meticulous.

Though it looked casual, every piece had to be positioned precisely.

In other words, Yujin was setting up an intricate array.

“Phew. Think I’m about done.”

He’d focused harder on this than when he fought the Earth Dragon.

A single mistake would waste all these precious materials, so he had no choice but to stay sharp.

Yujin nodded, satisfied with his handiwork.

“Alright, now for the last part…”

He poured the red liquid.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough to soak all the prepared materials.

“Done.”

The preparations were complete.

Just one more step, and he could revive the flame Citadel so desperately desired.

Yujin turned to look at Citadel, who was still staring blankly.

“Don’t forget our deal. If you try to back out later, I’ll just snap your neck and take it myself.”

He wasn’t joking—he meant it.

His eyes, now sunken with a rare intensity, made Citadel flinch—*shudder*—before he nodded.

“Do I look stupid enough to cheat the player who killed the Earth Dragon?”

“Attaboy.”

Without a second’s hesitation, Yujin gathered mana.

It wasn’t much.

Though his level had risen after defeating the Earth Dragon, he was still below level 10.

Without any mana-related traits, the amount of mana Yujin currently possessed was, frankly, pitiful.

But that was fine.

The mana only needed to serve as a flint to spark the flame.

“Hoo—.”

With a short breath, Yujin raised his arm and, without hesitation, snapped his fingers.

Snap—!

The mana gathered at his fingertips exploded with a small shock, reacting instantly with the 『Earth Dragon’s Blood [D]』.

Crackle—crackle—!

At the same time, tiny sparks began to flare.

This was enough.

Yujin stepped back and gazed quietly into the furnace.

The faint sparks, barely noticeable at first, started to grow.

And then—

Whoooosh—!

The carefully arranged materials erupted into a blaze, radiating intense heat.

This was no ordinary fire.

A mystical flame, shimmering with seven dazzling colors.

This was the heavenly fire, [Sky Flame], that Citadel had longed for.

“Ah… Aah.”

A gasp of awe came from Citadel behind him.

His expression looked as though a single touch would bring tears, as he stared at the wildly burning flame.

“It… It was true.”

He’d held onto his doubts until the very end, but now he had no choice but to accept it.

Yujin was his savior.

No, more precisely, the savior of his entire clan.

“To think I’d see [Sky Flame] revived, when I thought it was lost forever.”

In the end, tears streamed down his face.

“Thank you… Truly, thank you!”

Citadel bowed deeply to Yujin, pouring his heartfelt gratitude into the gesture.

“It was just a deal.”

Yujin had only helped because he wanted something in return.

If it hadn’t been for 『Black Wing [C]』, he wouldn’t have spared Citadel a glance, no matter how much he begged.

‘Still, not bad.’

In the first run, he never would’ve done something like this.

He’d acted on a whim to get 『Black Wing [C]』, but seeing Citadel’s joy made him feel… pretty good, actually.

‘Maybe I’ll do more good deeds when I have the time.’

The thought crossed his mind, if only briefly.

Of course, when push came to shove, he’d probably skip it.

After staring at the mystically burning [Sky Flame] for a while, Yujin suddenly remembered something and called out to Citadel.

“Hey, by the way.”

“Oh, you mean the promise? 『Black Wing [C]』 and 『Grace [C]』, right? Of course I’ll hand them over. You revived [Sky Flame], so I’ll keep my word!”

Citadel declared boldly.

“No, what’re you talking about? That’s a given.”

Yujin had something else on his mind.

“How are you gonna get this thing back to its original spot?”

This object, burning beautifully in seven colors and radiating intense heat.

“You managed to drag it here when the flame was out, but how’re you gonna take it back now?”

“Uh… Huh?”

Citadel blinked in confusion.

Seeing that, Yujin realized once again, with absolute certainty:

‘Yeah, this guy’s definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed.’

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