Myth Tower, 12th Floor — Frostheim.
Jinhyuk and Kancho stepped into the bonfire barrier.
"What are those? Snowmen and snow raccoons?!" Momo shrieked, stumbling backward.
"They're snow-yodels," Kancho corrected lightly before plopping down in front of the fire.
The snow clinging to him melted quickly, soaking him through. Jinhyuk pulled out a towel from his inventory and helped dry him off.
Elia tilted her head as she sipped her tea. "Where are Seira and Darck? Don't tell me you abandoned them."
"Abandoned? Please. If anyone's getting ditched, it's me."
Jinhyuk pointed off to the side.
Right on cue, Seira and Darck were already trading blows.
Satisfied, Elia handed Jinhyuk her cup. "I was saving this and taking tiny sips, but I'll give it to you. You're the owner, after all. Special privilege."
"Thanks."
He took a sip. Warmth spread through his body almost instantly.
Meanwhile, Elia started brewing a different tea.
No doubt about it—she just wanted a new flavor.
"How's Momo's tomato soup?" Momo asked eagerly.
"It's bursting with umami! As expected of Chef Momo!" Kancho gave a double thumbs-up, his mouth stained red.
Just how good is it?
Jinhyuk set down his teacup and accepted a bowl.
Sip.
Holy mother of—
In the middle of a snowstorm on a frozen plain, there couldn't be a more perfect dish.
Kamelia suddenly dipped a spoon into his bowl.
"I'll share too!"
"No need, plump one. I only want a single spoonful." She tasted it delicately before asking, "So? Any harvest?"
"Couldn't find anything usable for the Yodel Compass. But I picked up a lead. The next one should know more."
"The next one? The one waiting on the 13th floor?"
"Maybe the 13th. Maybe beyond."
Jinhyuk rubbed his chin.
Honestly, he hoped it was the next floor.
He was happy enough to gain another ally—but this one was different.
That "friend" possessed information about the Black Dragon and Rakshasa.
From crafting the Soul Harvester to the true identity of Kang Woojin they'd met before.
If they wanted to move forward quickly, meeting him sooner rather than later would be best.
"Hm?!" Kamelia stared at Momo after another spoonful. "Plump one, I'll have a full bowl."
Looks like she couldn't resist.
The rich flavor had conquered her.
"What are you doing, Kancho?"
Kancho was sitting on the ground, squishing something between his hands.
Up close, Jinhyuk saw him shaping lumps of clay into little spheres.
Looked like he was making dumplings.
"I'm making extra clay. Now that I have a bag, I can stockpile lots," Kancho explained.
"I'll help."
Jinhyuk sat beside him and started pinching off pieces.
Other than Momo, Kancho had worked the hardest when they created the Familiar. He might as well help until Seira and Darck finished sparring.
"They have to be round. Otherwise they won't fit in the minigun magazine."
"Got it. But Kancho… if I squeeze these too hard, they won't explode or anything, right?"
There was a ridiculous amount of clay.
If all of this went off at once, Frostheim might disappear.
"Of course. If those old grannies touch them, they explode. But you're fine, Master."
Kamelia and Elia quietly edged away.
Thankfully, he was excluded.
"What about this one? It's huge. Too big for the magazine."
"That's for the slingshot."
Kancho proudly held up Volkano's slingshot.
"My ultimate technique. I want to try it soon."
"Let's test it in the Tower of Despair."
As soon as they exited the Myth Tower, they planned to challenge the 64th floor of the Tower of Despair. Since it was an extermination mission, it was the perfect opportunity to try out Kancho's new weapon.
"Momo! If you're done serving food, come help with the clay!"
"Coming! Just a second!"
Momo plopped down with arms full of snacks. With Teacher Momo's nimble hands joining in, clay production sped up instantly.
Jinhyuk looked up from shaping clay.
Snowflakes and petals swirled in the wind. Seira and Darck were still trying to kill each other.
Slurp.
The tomato soup warmed him from the inside out.
Ahh… peaceful.
[Entering Tower of Despair, Floor 64!]
"Feels easier somehow."
"Yeah. Maybe it's not as cold?"
Perhaps because they'd just come from Frostheim. Kamelia and Elia looked relatively comfortable.
Not that they weren't cold.
They slowly set up a barrier while Momo lit a bonfire.
"Hahaha! Our legend has arrived!"
The Inuit Supreme Commander Noir approached with a radiant smile, clapping Jinhyuk on the shoulder.
On Tower Site, Noir was known for being stern and short-tempered.
But around Jinhyuk, he was nothing but a relaxed, gentle grandfather.
"Today's mission is simple! Smash all their outposts!"
[Yeti forces have established glacial barricades on key elevations!]
[Break through and capture the high ground!]
[The Inuit advance will begin in 1 minute!]
"Have you heard the song? Our finest bard composed it!"
"I did. You sing it incredibly well."
Jinhyuk gave him a thumbs-up.
He said it casually, but the first time he'd heard it, he'd been stunned.
He never imagined the song that shook Tower Site would be about him.
That was when he finally checked Seyun's long string of messages.
"So! What kind of dance will you show us today? I'll turn it into a song!"
"I'm not starting today. That guy is."
He pointed toward the hill.
Standing proudly against the snowstorm was Yodel Ranger Captain Kancho.
"Oho…"
Noir stroked his beard. "It should be grand and heroic. But he looks… rather small."
"That's Kancho's charm."
"Charm, you say?"
"Charm."
Meanwhile, oblivious to the conversation, Kancho pulled out his slingshot with deadly seriousness.
From his bag, he took out a fist-sized lump of clay.
Custom-made for this moment.
[The assault begins in 5 seconds!]
Kancho closed one eye, gauging the distance through the snowstorm. He adjusted the angle and hooked the clay into the sling.
[3 seconds! 3, 2, 1!]
"Fuuuu…"
He exhaled and released.
Twack!
[All mana consumed!]
[Amplification power infused into the clay proportional to mana!]
The clay's temperature skyrocketed.
It was no longer white.
It glowed red, as if about to explode at any second.
The crimson projectile tore through the snowstorm, leaving a blazing trail behind.
Fweeeeeeeesh!
"Ohhh."
Jinhyuk shielded his eyes, impressed.
It arced beautifully toward the barricade.
No idea about the power yet, but visually? Absolutely stylish.
"That's the same clay he always carries?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm."
Noir stroked his beard again.
He knew the little raccoon was a master of explosions.
Still… that was clay.
Could it really damage a Yeti-made glacial wall?
The ice was far tougher than outsiders imagined—
Flash.
A blinding light erupted at the impact point.
Swoooooosh!
A massive shockwave rolled back toward Jinhyuk's party.
"Ahhh! The bonfire's flying away!" Momo yelped, stumbling back.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
The explosion tore across the snowy plain.
The night vanished in an instant.
"Guh—!" Noir fell flat on his rear.
He'd seen explosions before. Inuit mages used fire magic.
But he wasn't sure this belonged in the same category.
"W-What exactly is that raccoon…?"
He turned to Jinhyuk for answers.
'Oh.'
Cold sweat trickled down Noir's forehead.
On second thought, maybe not.
Jinhyuk himself was frozen, mouth hanging open in shock.
'What the hell was that?'
The slingshot only mentioned amplification. No numbers.
He'd expected something strong—legendary item, after all.
But this?
He wasn't a military expert, but that looked missile-tier.
'A missile-grade slingshot fired by Yodel Ranger Captain Kancho…'
He swallowed.
Terrifying.
Very terrifying.
Wait—where's Kancho?
The hill he'd stood on had taken the full brunt of the shockwave.
"Kanchooo—!"
Before he could shout, something zipped beneath the snow.
Thud-thud-thud-thud.
A blur resurfaced exactly where Kancho had been standing.
Swoosh!
Kancho popped out and struck a proud pose.
As if he'd never moved.
As if he had stood firm before and after the explosion without flinching.
Jinhyuk nodded.
Better to pretend he didn't see anything.
Ding!
[An absurd explosion has swallowed the Yeti stronghold!]
[The Yeti base has been completely annihilated!]
[Tower of Despair, Floor 64 cleared!]
One shot. Total clear.
Jinhyuk gave Kancho a thumbs-up.
As expected of their party's firepower specialist.
Twenty-two hours later.
At midnight, they quickly cleared the 65th floor.
Ding!
[Tower of Despair, Floor 65 cleared!]
[Player Yoo Jinhyuk has leveled up!]
[Player Yoo Jinhyuk has leveled up!]
…
[Player Yoo Jinhyuk has reached Level 100!]
[Collector class has been upgraded to 'Rare'! Class ranks increase every 100 levels!]
[Unique Trait acquired: Card Finder!]
[You can detect, track, and discover traces related to Hero Cards!]
"Oh damn. What's this?"
Jinhyuk rubbed his chin roughly.
A class rank?
That was new.
He examined the newly added trait.
No idea how to use it yet.
Still—had to be good.
He'd figure it out later.
[Promotion reward: Blank Card – Jin x1 added! Blank Card: 0, Blank Card – Dog: 0, Blank Card – Jin: 2]
All stats increased, and everyone except Seira leveled up.
[Black Knights Commander Seira Kinkeiton: Level 201 (30% EXP)]
[Yodel Ranger Captain Kancho: Level 105]
[Undying Darck Castro: Level 125]
[Greedy Collector Momo: Level 125]
[Star Alchemist Elia Fossen: Level 118]
[Sky Reader Kamelia Sirin: Level 119]
Their unique traits and skills strengthened accordingly.
As Jinhyuk admired their growth—
Ding!
[Entry condition for Myth Tower, Floor 13 fulfilled!]
The long-awaited message appeared.
A smile curved across his lips as he moved his hand.
He'd waited a long time.
It was time to meet the owner of the horn.
[Entering Myth Tower, Floor 13!]
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T/N:
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