Chapter 21: The Birth of a Revolutionary

Upon conquering the 5th floor, a barrage of system windows appeared before Minhyuk’s eyes.

[You have succeeded in the world’s first flawless clear of the 5th floor!]

[As a reward, Level 2 Magic Combat Arts is granted.]

[You have realized the applications of Battle Spirit.]

[You have succeeded in 5 consecutive flawless clears.]

[Korea Tower ᅳ Special rewards can be obtained within the 5th floor.]

[※ A special quest is given to those who achieve great feats.]

[Achieve flawless clears up to the 9th floor.]

Rewards that would normally be given only after challenging the next floor were granted in advance, and even a new quest appeared—all of which were visible only to Minhyuk.

However, the system windows that followed were shared with all hunters.

[Notice: From now on, special rewards will be added when achieving perfect clears from floors 1 to 5 of the Korea Tower.]

[1st Floor: Simple Campfire]

[2nd Floor: Basic Physical Strengthening]

[3rd Floor: Basic Mana Circulation]

[4th Floor: Basic Mana Footwork]

[5th Floor: Basic Magic Combat Arts]

News arrived that additional rewards would be given for perfect clears specifically within the first 5 floors.

Hunters didn’t even need to struggle as desperately as Minhyuk did at their current level.

They could reach the 9th floor, gain the physical abilities and mana of a level 9, and then come back to challenge the perfect clears.

Furthermore, the gifts didn’t end there.

[Notice: From now on, an additional reward list will be generated for floors 1 to 5 of the Korea Tower.]

[Clear Rate 75% – S-Rank]

[Reward List – Additional Consumable Low-grade Inner Core]

[Clear Rate 50% – A-Rank]

[Reward List ᅳ Consumable Lowest-grade Inner Core]

[Clear Rate 25% or less – B – D Rank]

[Reward List: Empty / Absorbable Lowest-grade Mana Stone / Absorbable Low-grade

Mana Stone]

[※ One of the three can be obtained. The higher the clear rate, the higher the chance for superior rewards.]

[Clear Rate 5% or less – E]

[No additional rewards for minimum clears.]

The system was practically pouring out rewards as if encouraging people to actively conquer the floors below the 5th.

Not only were Inner Cores, which usually only dropped at a certain probability in the mid-section of the tower, being offered, but even Mana Stones—which had a higher loss rate compared to cores but were still absorbable—held immense value.

But the rewards didn’t stop there.

[Global Notice: The Korea Server has actively explored the floors below the 5th. As a special privilege, a wider variety of plants will now grow on floors below the 5th. Please engage in more active exploration and experimentation!]

The announcement ended with words that seemed like a warning to hunters who had ignored floors 1 through 9 until now.

As special privileges unique to the Korea Tower were added, the Korean Hunter Net went into a frenzy.

– Did everyone see the notice?—

– Wow… this is insane.

– This gives people a reason to stay on floors 1-5 as long as possible to grow.

– For sure… those who build a foundation like that will definitely be more competitive than hunters who reached the 20th floor first.

– From now on, hunters will be divided into those who built a foundation on floors 1-9 and those who didn’t.

– Basic training on floors 1-5 is going to become a mandatory course.

– The funny thing is that this course is limited to Korea only.

The Korean Hunter Net was in a festive mood over the reward giveaway exclusive to Korea.

In contrast, the atmosphere on the global Hunter Net, which was used worldwide, was disastrous.

– Ah… what were our high-rankers doing! (China) —

– You should do it yourself! Over there, it’s the low-floor hunters carrying! (China)

– At least give them some support! (China)

– They’re doing it on their own over there without support! (China)

– Just trying to get a free ride… (China)

– Who are you! You son of a… (China)

Starting with the Chinese hunters fighting, the atmosphere among hunters from each country turned sour.

– Newbies! Put some effort in. (France)

– And what have you done? (Germany)

– This is ridiculous. Why didn’t you try doing it yourself? (Switzerland)

– A guy who just sucked up the rewards according to the guide is being pathetic by preaching to the newbies. (Greece)

– You can’t even ask the newbies nicely, but you’re lecturing them? (Turkey)

Watching a hunter get torn apart for saying the wrong thing, other high-ranking hunters began to flock in to help.

– Are we just playing around?

We’re busy handling the homework the Tower gave us on the high floors! (Japan)

– That’s right.

Isn’t the reason the towers of each country don’t collapse all because of high-ranking hunters? (Philippines)

– While we’re doing our homework, the newbies should at least do that! (Malaysia)

– Agreed. (Germany)

– Get to work, newbies! (UK)

Before long, the global Hunter Net became a mess as people split into sides and started fighting.

On the other hand, the Korean Hunter Net was peaceful.

This was because they knew that eventually, the Anonymous Hunter would pass the 9th floor and reach the floors where they were, so they just had to hold out until then.

– There’s a patient dying of thirst here!

Looking for a rescue team!

15th-floor resident! —

– Uh-huh!

Wait your turn!

11th-floor resident.

– He hasn’t even come here yet.

9th-floor resident.

– Please come quickly!

We’re dying of thirst!

21st-floor resident.

– Please dispatch a rescue team immediately!

33rd-floor resident.

Like someone holding a stock at its peak, they hoped Minhyuk would climb to the high floors as soon as possible.

However, unlike their whining, they didn’t actually want him to climb in a rush.

They knew well that if he had to ask for help just to conquer the 5th floor, it would only get harder from there.

If he moved too fast and died or got seriously injured, forcing him to stop his climb, that would be the absolute worst-case scenario.

Contrary to the whining on the boards, the donation messages were full of nothing but support.

– Igua: I support the reform of the lower floors! –

[Donation of 10 million won!]

– Icron: Supporting you from the USA! —

[Donation of 30 million won!]

High-rankers, or so they seemed, donated large sums to Minhyuk to show their support.
It was because they felt through this notice just how great a task Minhyuk was performing.

Furthermore, while the benefits were currently limited to Korea, if he continued to write his legend, the entire world might benefit as well.

That was why they donated.

It was a way of showing him, who had to endure a grueling climb alone, that “We are cheering for you from behind!”

It might seem like nothing, but things like this provide a great deal of mental stability.
When you receive support from many people, you find strength you didn’t know you had.

“Phew… this feels good.”

Minhyuk, who had come out of the tower and sprawled out at home, smiled as he read the messages popping up with donation notifications on the system window.

“They’re fast.”

It hadn’t been long since Minhyuk cleared the 5th floor flawlessly, but articles analyzing what kind of effects these rewards would bring to Korea were already being posted in succession.

[Possibility of low-floor hunters flocking to Korea increases! With this reward, Korea has secured the safest lower-floor section in the world. As a result, the number of hunters staying in Korea for 1 to 3 months through temporary nationality changes is expected to…]

[As the lower-floor sections become mandatory, the supply of Slime Mucus is expected to expand. It is predicted that Korea will likely be responsible for the supply of Slime Mucus from the 1st floor, which is in the best condition among all sections of the Tower…]

[Research on the ecosystem of the lower-floor sections is set to expand. As the possibility of Korea leading the ecology of floors 1-9 increases, related scholars from all over the world are expected to flock…]

[Using items made from the lower floors increases the clear rate. When research on this expands in the future, the beginner set market for new hunters will be led by Korea…]

They all spoke only of a hopeful future for Korea.

Korea is going to hit the jackpot.

It will achieve more solid growth in the future.

They predicted such possibilities.

But there was something that clearly needed to be addressed.

“Trying to take credit, are we?”

Minhyuk frowned as he stared at a headline displayed in huge letters.

[Korea’s future is brilliant! From now on, the government will take the lead in developing this future growth engine…]

Minhyuk stared blankly at the article with an absurd expression.

The reason the system showered the Korea Tower with rewards this time was because of his efforts, the efforts of the lower-floor hunters, and the many hunters who helped with the clear.

What exactly did the government do here?

It seemed Minhyuk wasn’t the only one feeling this way, as several hunters who saw the article expressed their displeasure openly on the Hunter Net.

– No, what did they do to deserve a seat at the table?—

– Exactly.

This is ridiculous.

– We’re the ones who would get criticized even if we spoke up, so who are they to make an announcement like that?

– I’m so speechless I can’t even talk.

The anger was palpable even in the short posts, but in reality, expressing dissatisfaction on Hunter Net doesn’t mean those at the top will listen.

Even when people protest, they often pretend not to notice, so public opinion on Hunter Net?

It was nothing more than a storm in a teacup.

Someone had to step forward to bring this storm outside.

“Question.”

[Questions regarding the system are answered for a fee depending on the type.]

[Information not yet spread on Hunter Net may have restricted answers.]

[Information that a specific hunter wishes to keep private cannot be disclosed.]

Minhyuk ignored the warning from the system window and threw out a question as if it didn’t matter.

“If I defect to another country, can I take the current rewards with me?”

[The answer is possible as it is information about yourself. However! A detailed answer costs 100 million won, and a short answer costs 30 million won.]

“Detailed answer.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, he burned 100 million won, and the system’s detailed answer began.

[You played a decisive role in the conquest, lower-floor exploration, and experimentation, but the contribution of Korean hunters cannot be ignored.]

[Upon defection, some benefits will disappear or be reduced.]

[Upon defection, defection to another country is prohibited for 1 year.]

[Cannot use Korean Hunter Net and Hunter Market for 3 years.]

[Cannot operate in Korea for 5 years!]

[Conclusion: Defection with some rewards is possible.]

Minhyuk smiled broadly at the system’s detailed answer.

[Do you require an additional answer?]

“No. I want to post this answer exactly as it is on the bulletin board, so put an official answer certification mark on it.”

[Understood. Thank you for using the question service. Please use it whenever you have any questions in the future.]

The moment he received the content with the certification mark from the system, Minhyuk immediately wrote a post.

– Upon defection, it is possible to take some of the benefits Korea has currently obtained.

To ensure it wouldn’t need a verification process, he posted it on his own conquest bulletin board.

Perhaps that’s why?

Hunters who had rushed in happily because of the ‘NEW’ tag clicked on Minhyuk’s post with trembling hands, only to be horrified.

Like a title that suggested he might defect at any moment, information with the system certification mark about what happens upon defection was laid out.

Just when the anxiety that he might truly defect was setting in…

– Don’t try to take credit for what we’ve done.

A clear warning post.

However, that warning did not include ‘Hunters.’

Minhyuk specifically used the word ‘We’ to express that he didn’t earn these rewards alone, but that they had done it together.

Perhaps that’s why?

– We…-

– He said ‘We.’

– This is… kind of touching.

– Yeah.

The information we found while clearing floors 1-2 might not have been much, but hearing him call it ‘ours’ gives me a warm feeling.

– It feels like we’re climbing together.

Newbie hunters were moved by the fact that the information they found while clearing floors 1 and 2 was helpful.

And it was the same for the high-floor hunters who helped write the 5th-floor guide.
Just a single word, ‘We.’

But its power allowed the hunters to unite and respond.

– If Anonymous emigrates, I’m leaving too. (37th floor)-

– I’m thinking of leaving too. (41st floor)

– I’m a current S-Rank.

The moment you mess with Anonymous, I’m leaving Korea. (47th floor)

– Lower-floor hunters.

Follow me.

I’ll take as many as I can with me. (41st floor)

High-ranking hunters moved by Minhyuk’s words began to act.

Then, following them, other hunters also began to raise their voices, and the Hunter Net began to blaze once again.

The message resulting from this was clear.

‘The rewards are ours, so don’t think about sitting at our table. Just go solve the problems with the Monster Management Office and the hunter system.’

Seeing Minhyuk’s actions to reform the fundamental problems of the Korean hunter system beyond just the lower floors, people no longer called him the Savior of the Lower Floors, but by a different nickname.

“…Revolutionary.”

Minhyuk muttered softly as he looked at the new nickname given to him.

A satisfied smile was now etched on his face.