“What should I eat today?”
That was a question of a bygone era.
Instead, now it was replaced by questions like, What should I wear? Which Mitube video should I watch?
Why was it so important what to wear and watch?
There was nothing more important than the question of what to eat.
That was Yuseong’s belief.
In his previous life, every day was a fierce struggle.
There were many choices, and the foods available changed with each season, making it even more complicated.
But now that he had reached the 4th Layer, the worry about what to eat didn’t last long.
There was only one best choice in the 4th Layer.
Something even Yuseong hadn’t tasted often.
“Beef bulgogi…”
From the moment he thought of it, his mouth watered.
04.
Just like when he descended to the Third Layer, the number 04 appeared in front of the dark gate.
[Arrived at the 4th Layer.]
[Wishing you a successful expedition.]
Breaking through the darkness of the gate, the place he arrived at was a scorching jungle.
Chirrrr.
The sound of buzzing insects was loud.
He felt the humid air flowing nearby.
The scent of life.
A jungle teeming with countless monsters.
He had merely descended one layer, but the environment had changed drastically.
Unlike the bustling gate of the Third Layer full of explorers, this place was relatively quiet.
A few explorers were nearby, checking their equipment.
They glanced at Yuseong, who was alone, with a strange look.
Except for Yuseong, all the explorers were acting in parties.
Yuseong spotted the uniquely shaped roots of the World Tree far ahead.
He could roughly navigate using them.
“So the clear condition of the 4th Layer is exploration.”
Each Layer has its own clear conditions.
For newly opened Layers, a Main Task is usually given, requiring the combined strength of several explorers.
It might be defeating the dangerous monsters called the owners of the Layer or infiltrating giant structures to destroy magical stones.
However, just because someone has cleared that Layer doesn’t mean everyone can immediately advance to the next.
Latecomers also have tasks.
They must either kill a certain number of monsters in the Layer or stay within the area for a set period to clear it and proceed.
And as Yuseong remembered, the clear route for the 4th Layer was ‘exploration.’
Near the distinct World Tree roots was the Snake Temple.
Periodically, a horned snake appears and roams around.
If you catch that snake, you clear the Layer.
With proper armor, there was no fear of being killed by its bite, so apart from the hassle, it was a fairly easy route.
That’s why having a party with multiple people is better—it’s easier to find the snake.
Other explorers were also heading toward the World Tree roots.
At that moment, one explorer who was fixing his equipment spoke to Yuseong.
“Hey, young man, came alone?”
Yuseong was clearly more skilled than those explorers, whose equipment was much cruder than the Red Eye party he had just met.
But judging by their innocent looks, they seemed like rookie explorers.
“Uh.”
“I’m going to inspect the party slots. Wanna team up? It’s dangerous to be alone even in the 4th Layer.”
Yuseong looked into the eyes of the man who offered.
They were transparent.
Suspicious, but not malicious.
At least, that was Yuseong’s instinct.
“No, thanks.”
But whatever the case, Yuseong had no intention of party play with them.
He firmly declined and strode off in one direction.
Toward the opposite side from where the World Tree roots were visible.
“Oh, there’s nothing that way but monkeys.”
The explorer who had spoken to him shouted in dismay when Yuseong turned away toward the opposite route of the clear route.
But Yuseong cut through the vines deep into the jungle with his long knife without hesitation and disappeared.
“They looked young enough to help, but lately there have been two weird kids.”
Just a few days ago, someone was seen striding deep into that direction.
Back then, he couldn’t stop them, but as similar incidents repeated, they offered Yuseong a party.
The direction Yuseong headed was a thin jungle inhabited only by the monkey-like monsters called Kill Monkeys.
“Kids these days just don’t have enough respect for their elders… I told them to run, but…”
The explorer shook his head and went back to fixing his gear with a bright smile.
***
Night on the Third Layer.
The glowing roots of the World Tree had retracted their light and darkened.
However, this place, where special autonomous zones were established, remained bright even at night.
It was all due to the lights from the buildings and street lamps.
An enormous number of explorers had passed through this city in a single day.
That was why the area near the gate was always brightly lit.
A group of guild members appeared at the gate.
They were all members of the Red Eye guild, dressed in matching gear.
Their entire bodies were covered in the blood of monsters.
The squad leader, Chon Younghun, ordered his subordinates to rest.
“Good work. Take a break.”
They had just returned from pioneering the 13th Layer.
Now that they had safely come back to a secure Layer, the tension eased and they slumped to the floor.
Some made quiet noises as they drank water; others removed their suits to check their wounds.
Currently, the top-ranked explorers were pioneering the 18th Layer, so having returned from the 13th Layer meant their skills were no joke.
“Ugh, crossing the 10th Layer is seriously tough.”
“No kidding. Almost died today.”
They started to chat casually.
Go Byeongjae suddenly recalled the morning’s events and asked,
“How many Layers did Baek Yuseong descend?”
Red Eye had entered the 13th Layer for the first time that day.
Go was curious about how far Yuseong had gone, since he’d met him that morning.
“Well, he registered his Achievement Monument today, so probably the 4th Layer.”
“Yeah, right? And now that he’s in the 4th Layer, he’s acting all cocky?”
Their conversation was interrupted by Chon Younghun, the squad leader, who suddenly interjected.
“What? Baek Yuseong? You guys met him?”
Normally taciturn, Chon’s sudden intrusion caught Go off guard.
“Yeah, nothing special. I talked to him just to find out.”
“Oh? How was it? Did you get close?”
“Close? What do you mean close? He was cocky and cut me off. That bastard… next time I see him, I’ll…”
“What?”
Chon suddenly smacked Go on the back of the head.
Thwack.
“Ah! Hyung, why are you hitting me?”
“You punk, you started trouble for no reason. When you see someone with a pale face, you act all big.”
Other guild members burst out laughing.
Though it was partly true, Go protested with a sore head.
“No, I just tried to act friendly but got ignored. I did curse a bit, but he probably didn’t hear because he was far away.”
“What? Ugh, useless punk.”
“Is that so…”
Curious if there was something about Baek Yuseong, Go anxiously asked.
He couldn’t believe a rookie would get such a reaction just for a minor conflict.
Then Chon exploded with a sudden declaration.
“The Big Brother likes Baek Yuseong. He told me this morning he wants that guy to join our guild.”
“The Big Brother, you say?”
From the way they said it, it was clear.
Guild Red Eye was more like a gang from the start.
Originally, their organization was called Jeok Anpa.
It formed as a group of people with useful Gifts for battle, growing bigger by extorting money while roughhousing.
This generation’s leader changed, and they established a new guild.
From a violent gang, they had grown into a respectable guild.
They lived as explorers, hoping for a day they’d rise to the top.
“Yeah, Baek Yuseong caught Gwak Cheongrae. Thanks to that, the Seven Stars and Chilseongpa guys got what was coming to them.”
Red Eye knew the rival factions’ business better than most.
Of course, they didn’t know exactly how Yuseong subdued Gwak Cheongrae, but they did know where he got the drugs and firearms.
That organization was the Seven Stars guild.
The eternal rival of Jeok Anpa.
“The Big Brother was so happy that Chilseongpa got screwed.”
“Well… yeah. Gwak Cheongrae’s capture caused Chilseongpa some serious trouble. They might even be investigated.”
“Right, they were already fighting for territory with us. The Big Brother even looked up Yuseong’s interview and wants to get in touch to recruit him.”
The guild members understood Chon Younghun’s earlier behavior.
“Still, he just started receiving Cheonghwa Sponsoring. Do you think he’d join us? He’s not short of money.”
“You know how the Big Brother is once he gets fixated. Anyway, damn it, he told me to bring Yuseong here, but you screwed it up.”
Go got smacked again on the back of the head.
Rubbing his sore skull, he explained,
“No, that Baek Yuseong guy isn’t anything special really.”
“What?”
“To be honest, his Gift is just ‘eating.’ Even if he can eat poison and not die, what’s the point of being strong with that Gift…”
Go based this on the interview content.
Then another guild member interrupted.
“Hey, did you see his Achievement Monument? It’s ridiculously thick.”
“If you have a head, try to connect the dots. Honestly, a rookie wouldn’t have such a thick monument without pioneering Abyss. I think Chunghwa might have helped him down there before he got his license.”
“So he hitched a ride. Just that?”
“Probably.”
Hearing this, Chon came up with a simple solution.
“Hey, go open Baek Yuseong’s Achievement Monument now.”
It was as easy as opening the monument.
One of the assigned lackeys hurried to the World Tree roots.
Finding Yuseong’s Achievement Monument wasn’t difficult.
When they called his name, among the countless roots covering the ground, Yuseong’s monument appeared.
“Here it is.”
The monument tried to open.
The contents of Yuseong’s Achievement Monument floated before them like a hologram.
Everyone was curious about Yuseong’s achievements.
But the contents were deeply disappointing.
[No content.]
He had no achievements at all yet.
Since he just registered the monument today, it was a result that might be expected.
“There must be some hidden achievements.”
Someone muttered that, but a strange sense of disappointment filled the room.
Achievement Monuments vary in size.
Perhaps the reason Yuseong’s was so thick was just coincidence.
Some even thought so.
One guild member cautiously nudged Chon Younghun’s ribs.
“Well, I guess we’ll find out in time.”
“No, it’s filling up in real time.”
Chon was staring blankly at Yuseong’s monument.
The guild members followed his gaze.
And they were all shocked.
“…What is this?”
“Real-time? Has he already cleared the 4th Layer?”
Just moments ago, it had said ‘No content.’
Now, one achievement had appeared.
And the monument’s update meant Yuseong had cleared the 4th Layer in the meantime.
[General Achievement ‘Explorer Rookie’ Acquired]
A common achievement given when an explorer shows results in pioneering.
Another achievement popped up.
[Exceptional Achievement ‘Monster Rookie’ Acquired]
“Monster Rookie.”
Not everyone gets this.
If you register your Achievement Monument and achieve pioneering success very quickly on the same day, you get this.
Usually, those with high-level Gifts who explore with a guild from the start earn this.
“He definitely went in alone…”
Yuseong wasn’t affiliated with any guild, nor was he supported by an experienced explorer, yet he had already earned those achievements.
Moreover, the monument updates didn’t stop there.
[Exceptional Achievement ‘Kill Monkey Slayer’ Acquired]
Awarded for killing multiple Kill Monkeys on the 4th Layer in a short time.
And,
[Exceptional Achievement ‘Steel Buffalo Slayer’ Acquired]
He had killed a special monster, the Steel Buffalo, in the 4th Layer.
“This is…”
“Achievements like this on the 4th Layer? I’ve never heard of that monster before.”
Finally,
[Heroic Achievement Acquired!]
[Heroic Achievement ‘4th Layer Conqueror’ Acquired]
“H-Hero level…!”
“Heroic achievement, and he got it on the 4th Layer?”
There are several ways to clear a Layer.
The first pioneers risk their lives discovering the methods, and latecomers follow those routes to clear the Layer.
But some of these clear methods are extremely secretive and unique.
Outstanding explorers sometimes pioneer their own paths, not the obvious ones.
Like ancient explorers discovering new sea routes by sailing their ships.
These kinds of clear methods alone earn heroic achievements.
A cold silence fell over the group.
Achievements usually earned only by lead explorers had been accomplished by a rookie entering the 4th Layer for the first time.
Everyone was bewildered by the unprecedented speed.
Breaking the silence, Chon Younghun said,
“Hmm, if the Big Brother sees this, there’ll be another big commotion.”
Go swallowed his saliva.
His eyes began to tremble with anxiety.
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