Back home.
I felt completely refreshed.
Starting from the 3rd Floor, the Trial Tower entered what was commonly called a hellish section—the point where the greatest number of beginners dropped out.
There was a complicated maze, along with traps hidden everywhere you went.
And I had finished a place like that with a single skill.
"It's all thanks to our Fire. How about a hug?"
-Waaah!
WHACK. WHACK.
[Fire(EX) hits your leg and demands Mana Stones instead.]
"Ow, ow! Fine. Stop hitting me. Here."
What a completely unromantic little bastard.
The moment I tossed him a Mana Stone, Fire jumped up and caught it in his mouth.
Then he ran around the apartment while chomping away at it.
Was he a Spirit or a puppy?
He seemed to be getting more mischievous by the day.
I had thought a Spirit King would carry himself with some dignity.
'What dignity?'
He was nothing more than a glutton obsessed with food.
Surely all Spirit Kings were not like this, right?
Ugh.
No matter how I thought about it, that would be too much.
All I could do was pray that my next Spirit would be a calm one.
Even if Fire was a troublemaker, the rewards he brought were undeniable.
Since the 3rd Floor had been a maze filled with traps, there were no monster byproducts.
But I had received plenty of Mana Stones.
On top of that—
[Hunger has reached 16,000!]
[Fire(EX)'s Level increases by 1!]
❰Fire(EX) Lv. 6❱
❰Possessed Skills: Hellfire(EX), Meteor(EX)❱
❰Hunger: (0/32,000)❱
……A new skill will be unlocked upon reaching Lv. 10
……Lee Chanyoung will unlock a new skill upon reaching 32,000 Hunger
……Spirit Shelter will be unlocked upon defeating a Hidden Monster
The effect of the Spirit Stone was incredible.
To think I had managed it without even using all my Mana Stones.
It was unfortunate that the Hunger requirement had doubled again, though.
I had thought I had accumulated a lot of Mana Stones.
Apparently, that had only been an illusion.
Everything I had gathered so far would barely be enough to fill 32,000 Hunger.
I would have to work hard again today.
I was about to check the new skill I had obtained when I stopped.
Something new had appeared beneath the Hunger requirement.
"'Spirit Shelter will be unlocked upon defeating a Hidden Monster'? What's that?"
-A Hidden Monster occasionally appears after every monster inside a Gate has been defeated. It is one rank stronger than the Gate itself, so attempting it with multiple people is recommended. There is also a high probability that it will drop valuable items when defeated.
"I already know what a Hidden Monster is. I'm asking about the Spirit Shelter."
I had researched Spirits a little immediately after awakening.
But I had never heard of anything called a Spirit Shelter.
-There is no need to overthink it, Human. It is exactly what the name suggests. It is a shelter where Spirits can rest when tired. As it is enhanced, it can also provide various buffs, increase the grades of acquired skills, and even supply Mana Stones and Spirit Stones.
"Oh! Really? That's insane."
-I am not insane, Human.
"I'm talking about the Spirit Shelter."
There was no question about it.
I absolutely had to unlock this.
The problem was—
"How am I supposed to find a Hidden Monster? I heard only about one appears for every ten thousand Gates."
-Do not worry, Human. For this occasion only, I will tell you the location of a Hidden Monster.
"That's a relief."
Then all I had to do was go there.
But first, I checked the skill I had obtained.
[Successfully reached 16,000 Hunger.]
[Skill, 'Heart of Steel(C-),' acquired!]
<Heart of Steel(C-)>
Description: You acquire the mindset of an Earth Spirit. You can maintain your composure in any situation.
"Another Passive Skill! Nice!"
This was an ability that ranked among the very best Passive Skills.
Whether inside the Trial Tower or a Gate, composure was more important than raw strength or powerful abilities.
I was not joking.
You had to know how, when, and where to use your abilities in order to use them properly.
What good was immense power if you simply flung it around recklessly?
The same applied when you panicked.
There was no way things would go as intended.
Heart of Steel would probably remain useful for a very long time.
-Waaah!
[Fire(EX) says he has finished all the Mana Stones and demands more!]
"Wait. I need to eat too. You're not the only one with a mouth."
Everything I was doing was ultimately so I could make a living, after all.
Ordering delivery first thing in the morning felt a little excessive.
So I pulled out some Spam I had stored in the cupboard.
I had bought a large stock on my way home yesterday.
I did not need any other side dishes.
I simply opened two cans of Spam and fried the slices nicely in a pan.
Then I heated up some instant rice in the microwave.
"The perfect breakfast for someone living alone is complete."
The greasy aroma filled my old studio apartment.
Spam first thing in the morning.
What luxury.
It was not exactly healthy, but—
"I'm Awakened now. This much is fine."
Breakfast was supposed to be filling anyway.
Especially since I planned to hunt a Hidden Monster today.
I placed a bite-sized piece of Spam on top of some white rice and immediately took a mouthful.
"Ahhh! Incredible!"
Simple was best.
The fatty minced meat and saltiness hit my tongue directly, sending a pleasant tingle through it.
The warm rice wrapped around that somewhat overpowering flavor as gently as a mother.
It was the perfect combination.
There was a reason Spam went so well with rice.
I was about to take another bite when I felt an intense, heated stare beside me.
-Waaah!
[Fire(EX) drools and demands some Spam immediately!]
"Didn't you say processed food tasted bad?"
-Waaah! Waaah!
[Fire(EX) narrows his eyes and points out that you didn't grill it last time!]
Of course.
It looked like two cans would not be nearly enough.
-Burp. Waaah! Waaah! Waaah!
[Fire(EX) says grilled Spam still isn't as tasty as he expected!]
[Fire(EX) tilts his head and says perhaps he is getting tired of it!]
[Fire(EX) asks you to make it from scratch next time!]
I casually ignored Fire as he continued complaining from inside my clothes.
It was ridiculous.
'Of course you're tired of it. You ate thirty cans of Spam.'
Even the finest delicacies would become tiresome if you ate that much.
Cows and pigs probably did not eat as much as him.
I would have to go grocery shopping again once this was over.
At this rate, the 20.6 million won I had earned yesterday would disappear into food expenses in no time.
-Waaah!
[Fire(EX) asks when you are going to arrive.]
"Get back inside before anyone sees you. I'll tell you when we're there."
-Waaah! Waaah!
[Fire(EX) asks you to find some other way besides this!]
[Fire(EX) vehemently protests, asking why a Spirit King should have to stay inside clothes that smell like dust!]
I struggled to stop Fire from repeatedly trying to climb out until the bus finally reached my destination.
I was already exhausted before even entering the Gate because of this little troublemaker.
It really felt as though I were raising an unruly puppy.
Still, what could I do?
He made me a lot of money.
'I should either look into getting something like a carrier or endure it until he gets used to this.'
When I stepped off the bus, a familiar landscape spread before me.
Everything around me was green.
The area was filled with people wearing hiking clothes.
It was a mountain overflowing with the vitality of nature.
"There's really a Gate with a Hidden Monster here, right?"
-Your ability indicates that there is, so there is no need to worry. We are almost there. You need only climb the mountain.
"It's been a while since I've gone hiking."
Following Clone's directions, I began climbing.
In the past, only a few minutes would have left me gasping for breath.
But now—
"Oh my! Is that young man a flying squirrel or something? Why is he so fast?"
"I'm dying over here, but he doesn't even look like he's sweating."
"Maybe he's Awakened? Awakening really is incredible. Look at the way he's climbing."
I practically flew up the mountain.
I was not sweating, nor was I even out of breath.
Taking four stairs at a time with a single step was effortless.
The effects of awakening were incredible.
I was not even putting much strength into it.
I had been running around so much yesterday that I had not noticed, but even when I moved casually, my speed and stamina were absurd.
Spirit-Blessed Body also contributed significantly.
Clone gradually guided me farther away from the hiking trail and toward increasingly difficult terrain.
"How much farther?"
-We are almost there, Human. Do not rush me.
Clone was telling the truth.
I suddenly sensed a powerful concentration of Mana.
-We have arrived. That is it.
It was a cave.
When I approached, I found a Gate not far inside.
A Gate containing a Hidden Monster should be fairly high-ranked.
[Annihilate the Steel-Fanged Wolf Packs.]
[Steel-Fanged Wolf Pack: 0/10]
"D-Rank. Since the Hidden Monster is one rank higher, it'll be C-Rank."
-Correct.
Even though the System message did not display that information, Clone's word was reliable.
There was no reason to hesitate.
I entered immediately.
I was about to ask Fire to handle things when I suddenly felt killing intent directly in front of me.
My body instinctively threw itself aside.
"GRRRR!"
A huge Steel-Fanged Wolf narrowly swept past me.
That scared the hell out of me.
Without Nature's Eyes and Spirit-Blessed Body, I would not even have reacted in time.
There was no time to wonder why a monster had been waiting right at the entrance.
Heart of Steel activated, allowing me to calmly choose the most rational course of action.
I dodged another attack and simultaneously—
[Fire(EX)'s possessed skill, 'Hellfire(EX),' activates.]
KABOOOOOOOOOM!!
A dark crimson hell unfolded across the world.
The Gate was finished just like that.
[You have annihilated the Steel-Fanged Wolf Packs!]
[Steel-Fanged Wolf Pack: 10/10]
[Steel-Fanged Wolf Claw × 133 has been awarded!]
[Steel-Fanged Wolf Hide × 125 has been awarded!]
[Steel-Fanged Wolf Fang × 98 has been awarded!]
[Steel-Fanged Wolf Pack Leader's Fang × 5 has been awarded!]
[Lowest-Rank Mana Stone(F) × 96 acquired!]
[Low-Rank Mana Stone(E) × 31 acquired!]
[Lower-Intermediate-Rank Mana Stone(D) × 21 acquired!]
[Intermediate-Rank Mana Stone(C) × 6 acquired!]
[All conditions have been fulfilled!]
[Hidden Monster, Mighty Troll, has appeared!]
[Mighty Troll: 0/1]
Only the Hidden Monster remained.
"GROOOOAR!"
An enormous figure emerged from the ashes.
A Troll that looked completely out of place among the Steel-Fanged Wolves.
"The monster one rank above a Steel-Fanged Wolf is a Troll?"
-Hidden Monsters are selected randomly. You were unlucky. Of all possibilities, you encountered a troublesome monster possessing extraordinary durability, tremendous strength, and regeneration, Human.
Thorough planning was normally required to fight even a single Troll.
You needed attack power strong enough to overcome its incredible durability, along with sustained damage capable of suppressing its regeneration.
Yes.
Normally.
[Fire(EX)'s possessed skill, 'Hellfire(EX),' activates.]
KABOOOOOOOOOM!!
ROOOOAR!
Dark crimson hell came crashing down.
A Troll was a Troll for a reason.
It endured.
Its burning flesh regenerated as its eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
It did not matter.
One more time.
[Fire(EX)'s possessed skill, 'Hellfire(EX),' activates.]
KABOOOOOOOOOM!!
ROOOOAR!
"G-Groooar?"
If that was not enough?
Again.
[Fire(EX)'s possessed skill, 'Hellfire(EX),' activates.]
The terrifying momentum it had possessed when it first appeared was nowhere to be seen.
"Gro... oar..."
It staggered, barely breathing.
To finish things off, the world was dyed black.
Then an enormous meteor came crashing down.
[Fire(EX)'s possessed skill, 'Meteor(EX),' activates.]
KABOOOOOOOOOM!!
KABOOOOOOOOOM!!
Only an enormous crater remained in the forest.
Everything else had disappeared.
System messages floated over the empty landscape.
[Hidden Monster, Mighty Troll, has been defeated!]
[Mighty Troll: 1/1]
[Item, Lucky Charm(C-), acquired!]
…….
…….
More System messages appeared, but I would check them later.
-The monster was waiting at the entrance, so there is a high probability that someone entered this Gate before you.
That meant whoever had discovered this place could return at any moment.
So the instant I emerged from the Gate, I hurried down the mountain.
On a mountain covered in thick vegetation—
A group of Awakened were climbing with excited expressions.
"Hyung, are you sure there's really a Gate with a Hidden Monster here?"
"I'm telling you, there is! I checked it myself, so I'm certain. You prepared properly, right?"
"Of course. I even took out a loan when you said there was a Hidden Monster."
They soon arrived at the location he had described.
A cave deep in a rarely visited part of the mountain.
A group of ten Awakened stood there.
But—
"It's not here."
"...W-What?!"
"……."
No matter how many times they looked around, nothing changed.
Everyone stared incredulously at the man who had claimed there was a Hidden Monster in the completely empty cave.
Having suddenly become a middle-aged boy who cried wolf, the man could only blink in bewilderment.