[00:00:00]
The clock in the sky pointed at 0.
"Zero!"
The players were all overjoyed. There were people who even threw their hats in the air. Thousands of hats soared up. They looked like flowers in spring.
And before all the hats fell down to the floor-
[Letting everyone know.]
A voice rang out in the sky.
It was announcing something to everyone.
[From today, the tutorial is being ended.]
That the prologue was now finished.
[Letting everyone know again.]
[From today, the tutorial is being ended.]
That it was now the start of the real thing!
"Woo hooo!"
People shouted in excitement. Passion. Heat. Enthusiasm. When was the last time hunters were this heated up? Even the old man who set up a store and the middle-aged man who gave up on the 2nd floor were shouted in happiness in the square.
Everyone was a hunter at this moment.
"11th floor! 11th floor! 11th floor!"
"Open the 11th floor!"
"Hey, news just came up but…this…"
And as if responding to their heat.
The clock in the sky exploded with light. It was a light as powerful as the sun. The hunters shut their eyes and looked at the sky through their fingers. I wasn't an exception.
[Warriors. Climbers of the tower.]
[Congratulations on the crossing over the regrets of the hellfire residence.]
There was a large human in the air. No, an angel or goddess would be more appropriate. She was emitting a holy light, white clothes fluttering in the air.
It was like something that should be engraved on a temple.
"Whoa…"
"Pretty…"
Everyone in the square let out exclamations. Most hunters were staring blankly up. That was how beautiful the image of the goddess was.
-Zombie. Wake up. That's not a real goddess.
But Bae Hu-ryeong was cold.
Sword Emperor. The one who had cleared up to the 99th floor was seduced by what was in front of him.
-It's just a system that explains quests to you.
"…Is it like an NPC?"
-Right. Even if there are goddesses, that's nothing more than a recorded video. It's something that automatically plays when the 10th floor is cleared. Tsk Tsk. How pathetic.
I became curious.
"How do you know that?"
-Huh? Because…
It was when Bae Hu-ryeong was about to reply.
[Warriors! There is a world that needs your help. In this world, there is a scary Devil King. From now, you will be summoned as warriors to this place, and you will receive a mission to protect mankind. If you want to accept this mission, say 'Transmit'…]
Because she finished, someone jumped into the air.
"Hup!"
The hunter lightly stepped on the roof of the building. The 3rd floor. 5th floor. 7th floor. In an instant, the hunter arrived at the bell tower of the square. And the hunter flew high midair.
Sword Saint.
Marcus Calenberry.
"Haat!"
The current Rank 1's sword technique split the sky. The trajectory of his sword cut past the goddess. The image of the goddess was split into two.
It was a beautiful and quick attack.
Everyone who had seen the blink-of-an-eye attack dropped their jaws.
"Huh, huh…?!"
And that only lasted a moment.
The split goddess quickly returned. Like how cutting through the ocean was futile, the goddess spoke in the same beautiful voice before.
[…If you want to accept this mission, say 'Transmit'. Warriors. Then, you'll take your steps on the 11th floor.]
The goddess was still shining.
She had light, but it wasn't holy anymore.
Since a god ripped once wasn't a god anymore.
"Hmm."
Sword Saint lightly landed on a roof. He was wearing the same black suit that I saw in the bar. He looked at the sky like he didn't like something, and slowly looked down at the square.
"…"
The square was silent.
-Mm.
Bae Hu-ryeong spoke.
-I did that in the past too. See. NPC, right?
I was flabbergasted.
'…Do you have to check to be satisfied?'
-Yeah. I don't get people who don't check. Don't you want to cut it with your sword when something big appears? Aren't all people like that?
'Sigh.'
He was a psycho.
I strengthened my vision with Aura and looked at the Sword Saint. Careful not to meet his eyes.
"Transmit."
The Sword Saint quietly mumbled. The same like from the goddess wrapped around the old Sword Saint. A moment later, he was gone without a trace. Only White bird poop was left on the roof.
"Ahahahat!"
Laughter exploded from the silent tower. The hunters turned their heads.
It was from the Guild Master of Ten Thousand Temple, Heretic Questioner.
"I lost again! Ah! It's a beautiful day today!"
The Heretic Questioner took off his cap. He politely bowed to the people looking at him.
"Then I'll see everyone on the 11th floor! Transmit!"
A white light covered the Heretic Questioner. The next moment, the Heretic Questioner was gone. Looking at his disappearance blankly, the hunters realized belatedly.
"Uh…"
That the Sword Saint and Heretic Questioner had taken a step ahead of them to the 11th floor.
And that was the starting point.
"T, Transmit!"
"Transmit!"
"Transmit!"
Countless hunters shouted out 'transmit' frantically. The square was filled with light. Everytime someone shouted, light poured to where they were. These lights increased in the thousands and lit up the sky.
[Warriors. Climbers of the tower.]
In the midst of that, the goddess's welcoming was still going on.
[From the 11th floor to the 20th floor, you will be met with a test. A test of faith.]
The goddess gathered her hands on her chest.
Like she was praying.
[…You will find your answer. Someone will light the way. So you will be able to know yourself…]
But there weren't many listening to her. Everyone was in a hurry not to be behind.
The small amount of people that were left were filming it with their phones.
"What a shame."
Someone walked up next to me and muttered.
The Vice Guild Leader of the Civil Militia. It was the Crusader.
"A shame?"
"Think about it. Whoever made the tower put effort into making it. That's also a message for us. But no one cares."
The Crusader had a sad expression.
"People should've looked at this emotionally. The fact that there's a tower and we can use skills is an amazing miracle…but we've become used to everything on the 10th floor."
"You're a touchy feely person."
"Mm. I majored in music on the outside."
She lifted a corner of her mouth.
"Do I seem more charming after hearing I'm a woman who did music?"
"Ah…I think it'll be hard to earn money."
"Oof. You hurt with facts."
We both laughed.
Bae Hu-ryeong crept between us.
-Zombie, be careful. This human is suspicious. Hm?
'Ugh, what again.'
-There's no way someone would approach someone like you. Do you have a handsome face or personality? Everything's disgusting. Kya, I see! This is a con-artist! 100%
This guy…never mind. Let's just not.
"Excuse me!"
Then, a crowd of people came at us.
They weren't reporters, but seemed to be people doing their own broadcasting online.
"T, The hunter there is Kim Gong-ha hunter-nim…right?"