The next morning.
The world was still buzzing with the emergence of the new advanced class, Survival Chef.
As expected, many channels were covering this news in special segments.
“Hello, viewers. This is a special feature on urgent current affairs! The dawn of a new era. I am your host, Ahn Sung-soo. Yesterday evening, an incredible event occurred in South Korea: the world’s first unlocking of a new advanced class for humanity. To analyze this news in depth, we have invited Hunter Lee Jeong-hoon, an expert in the hunter industry. Hunter Lee Jeong-hoon, welcome.”
The news anchor spoke in an excited voice.
Next to the screen, the Survival Chef text was clearly visible along with the Rocket Store logo.
Soon after, the expert panelist appeared.
“Yes, hello.”
“Hunter Lee Jeong-hoon, how do you view this Survival Chef class unlock incident?”
“This is the first time an advanced class other than a combat class has been unlocked. This will completely change the perception of non-combat professions. Beyond just a simple increase in combat power, it will significantly enhance the stability and sustainability of Tower conquests. It has opened up the possibility for new strategy methods that we couldn’t even dream of in the past.”
“As you said, it seems that not only domestic but also overseas interests are deeply shocked. What is the current reaction?”
This time, another panelist explained while displaying short news clips on the screen.
“Many countries, including the United States, China, and Japan, are unable to hide their envy. While the Survival Chef class itself has been unlocked for all of humanity, the existence of the Rocket Store that made such a thing possible is currently a special system appearing only in Korea. Whatever its true identity may be, it is expected to bring enormous benefits to Korea in the future.”
The anchor nodded and continued.
“On the other hand, I heard that some voices of concern are also emerging?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Since this is an asset that every country covets, the person involved could be promised numerous temptations and extraordinary rewards to emigrate to another country. In this situation, the identity of the Rocket Store’s owner remains a mystery.”
“Ah, that is a valid concern. But conversely, doesn’t that mean other countries haven’t been able to grasp their identity yet?”
“Publicly, that is true, but there’s no way to know what is happening under the surface. We must not let our guard down. It is an urgent matter for the authorities and the Association to cooperate, find the person as quickly as possible, and establish a friendly relationship.”
However, the thing the expert was worried about was never going to happen.
Because I was stuck in the corner of my room.
“It’s a bit sad that I couldn’t go even if I wanted to, though I have no intention of going anyway.”
The unlocking of the Survival Chef wasn’t just a commotion in the outside world; something peculiar happened that I could feel firsthand.
New members were pouring into the Rocket Store.
New registrations weren’t exactly new, so it wasn’t surprising, but there was a truly surprising point.
It was the specific backgrounds of the newly joined members.
“They’re all production-class hunters.”
The cause was Lee Jun-ho’s interview.
“How on earth did he get an exclusive interview in less than a day?”
Mirae Ilbo.
It was a media outlet that had been catching my eye lately.
Specializing in hunter-related articles, it had recently gained a reputation for being one step faster than anyone else.
“The Mirae Ilbo was also the first to report the scandal of A-rank hunter Cha Jun-sung, if I recall.”
Whether they had someone with related abilities or a strong backing, they seemed to have found Lee Jun-ho faster than any other media outlet and interviewed him.
I looked up the interview video to see what he had said that made production hunters risk danger to join the Rocket Store.
I skipped the beginning of the interview and played the segment people watched the most.
Host: Then, how did you decide to challenge The Tower?
Lee Jun-ho: It was from the moment the Rocket Store appeared. I made up my mind after hearing rumors that you could buy recipes that didn’t exist in this world with coins. Of course, the community’s reaction was negative, asking, ‘A chef in The Tower?’ but I didn’t hesitate. I used the money I had saved to buy common skill books, challenged The Tower, and nearly died on the 3rd floor, but I dramatically survived thanks to the existence of the Rocket Store.
Host: Even after almost dying once, did you still think about continuing to climb The Tower?
Lee Jun-ho: Yes. I wanted to prove myself, and rather, I thought I had gained a reliable backing called the Rocket Store. Of course, since I knew my own skills well, I hired a mercenary named Leon to conquer the 4th floor. During that time, I received a new proposal from the Rocket Store.
Host: A new proposal?
Lee Jun-ho: Yes. I was bewildered at first. I only thought about the items I would buy from the Rocket Store; I didn’t know they would propose something like a quest. But the content of the test was interesting.
Host: What was the content?
Lee Jun-ho: It was about proving gourmet taste by creating the best flavor using ingredients that could be found on the battlefield. As soon as I saw it, I thought, ‘This is it.’ So I immediately challenged the test, and although I faced unexpected crises like the damage of my cooking tools in the process, I was able to overcome them thanks to the Rocket Store. After passing all the tests, I was finally able to unlock the new class, Survival Chef. Now, I am planning to move toward even higher places.
Host: Ah, Hunter Lee Jun-ho, you are still climbing The Tower even now. That’s amazing! Finally, do you have any last words as we finish the interview?
Lee Jun-ho: If it weren’t for the Rocket Store, I would probably still be staying only in the kitchen. Thank you so much for opening up new possibilities for me. I hope that through the special experiences provided by the Rocket Store, non-combat hunters like me can dream bigger dreams. Thank you!
“Wow, he went that far?”
As a result, thanks to Lee Jun-ho’s interview, the hopes of numerous non-combat hunters were flocking to the Rocket Store even now.
Everyone was probably expecting that they, like Lee Jun-ho, could obtain a new advanced class.
“I can’t meet those expectations right away, though.”
To satisfy that enthusiasm later, I had no choice but to steadily complete requests.
Of course, the members’ efforts were also necessary. More than mine.
First, the two requests I received yesterday while I was sleeping were resolved smoothly.
The rewards sent by the Satyr and the Dwarf had already arrived.
One was a large container filled with 10 liters of fresh goat milk sent by the Satyr Fauno, and the other was a small, heavy box containing the Dwarf Blasting Technique skill book from the Dwarf Barque.
First, I took out a book with a leather cover from the box.
The cover of the book was engraved with a pattern of a crossed hammer and pickaxe, symbolizing Dwarves.
[Item Registered: Dwarf Blasting Technique Skill Book]
Dwarf Blasting Technique.
This would be incredible news for hunters related to mines or excavation.
“The amount of mana stone mining will probably increase quite a bit, right?”
Besides that, it would be very useful when changing terrain, clearing paths, or collecting minerals in The Tower.
I tried to negotiate, but a system message appeared stating that skill books were not eligible for negotiation.
It seemed they could only be listed as limited items.
Next was the goat milk.
“Goat milk will obviously be popular, right?”
Considering the popularity of Sugar Sweet Potatoes and Cream Potatoes hasn’t cooled down yet, it goes without saying.
I immediately used the negotiation skill on Fauno and had the item listed in the Rocket Store on the condition of regularly providing various items needed for goat farming.
Unlike the time with the Sugar Sweet Potato Pie, I didn’t forget to buy some goat milk in advance as the owner’s privilege before launching it.
I carefully opened the lid of the milk.
“Oh, smells savory.”
The savory scent of milk wafting from the container filled the room.
“Wow! Guardian. Let’s try it with some bread right now!”
As expected, Aria was circling around me in excitement at the appearance of new food.
“Yes, yes. I get it. But don’t get too excited. Sometimes you seem less like a spirit of the World Tree and more like a spirit of mukbang.”
“What? What did you say?”
“It’s a joke.”
“Hmph, it wasn’t a joke! I’m not a mukbang spirit!”
I cleanly ignored her angry grumbling and poured a full cup of goat milk.
Unlike regular milk, it had a clear and transparent hue.
Taking a sip, a deep savoriness along with a subtle sweetness spread throughout my mouth.
“This is the real deal.”
Aria also took the small cup I gave her, drank a sip, and widened her eyes.
“It’s really delicious! I think it would go well with morning rolls.”
“Yeah. I prepared bread and jam too.”
A glass of goat milk with a morning roll spread with jam.
It was definitely a delicious taste.
But.
“It’s a little disappointing.”
“You too?”
“Yes. The morning rolls are great, but I wonder what it would be like if it were Sugar Sweet Potato Pie or Shaded Grape Tart instead.”
“I agree.”
The current situation was very concerning.
My tongue, which used to be satisfied even with cheap food, had begun to change its taste ever since I started interacting with the Halflings.
To think I’m naturally coming up with food pairings now.
But would there be a way to downgrade the sense of taste that already knows delicious food?
“For the sake of the food expenses that will increase in the future, let’s earn money!”
“I’ll help with what I can, too!”
“Sure.”
Right now, it felt like Aria was eating more than she was earning, but she would surely be a help later.
Of course, I didn’t voice my inner thoughts.
“In that sense, the World Tree has grown quite a bit now!”
At Aria’s words, I looked at the World Tree and was surprised.
“When did it grow like this?”
I had been indifferent because I left the management to Aria for a while, but the growth of the World Tree was remarkable.
I take back what I just thought.
Sorry for doubting you, Aria.
“It was definitely a sprout a few days ago, but now it’s almost a sapling.”
“Ehem!”
At my words, Aria straightened her shoulders and acted cute and arrogant.
She was subtly bragging that the World Tree had grown this much thanks to her efforts.
“Are you showing off right now?”
“Yes!”
“You deserve to. I admit it.”
“Thank you for recognizing it!”
While exchanging small talk with Aria, something suddenly caught my eye.
It was a tiny baby bird with blue feathers sitting motionless on a branch of the World Tree.
“Huh? Little one, where did you come from?”
I was puzzled to see a bird in my house, which was completely cut off from the outside by the system’s barrier.
“Our house should be blocked by the system’s barrier.”
Aria explained excitedly to my question.
“This friend is a spirit too! It’s a friend that lives in symbiosis with the World Tree. It’s going to eat the pests that flock around the World Tree because of the mana from now on.”
“Pests?”
I never imagined there would be pests in my house.
One of the few advantages I found while being stuck in this room was that there were no bugs.
Was that not true?
Come to think of it, something like an earthworm was in the mouth of this cute baby spirit bird.
Aria, the bird, and even the bugs were coming and going from my house as if it were their own.
Am I the only one stuck in this room?
“More importantly, you should start getting ready now.”
“For what?”
It was then, just as Aria said something out of the blue.
[An emergency request has arrived]
Requester: Dryad
Content: I have heard through Aria that the World Tree is growing well thanks to you. Now, even in Terra, we can faintly sense the existence of the World Tree growing in another dimension. However, for the World Tree to grow better, the branches must be trimmed periodically. We will teach you how to prune the branches and how to utilize those branches effectively. We, the Dryads, promise to watch over the growth of you and the World Tree and pay a corresponding price.
Reward: Utilization of the World Tree, Blessing of the Dryad.
After reading the system message, I quietly set down the cup I was holding.
Flustered by the sudden emergency request, I muttered.
“What is this about? Aria, did you know about this?”
“Yes. Every time I go to Terra, I’ve been telling the Dryads about the growth status of the World Tree. At this stage, it’s time for pruning.”
At Aria’s words, I asked back with a surprised expression.
“Pruning?”