Chapter 42

042. Dungeon Strategy (1)

In fact, it was a situation where he didn't have to return to Earth.

The Tower of Trials still offered many rewards, and the time he had to wait before challenging the trials had disappeared.

If he challenged the 8th floor trial, he would certainly benefit greatly.

However,

'If the difficulty is at the level of the 7th floor trial, I might not be able to break through it.'

That was the problem.

If the difficulty was at the level of the 7th floor trial, he might not be able to break through the 8th floor.

Worse still, in such a situation, another interdimensional challenger might barge in.

In many ways, it was a tricky situation to just challenge it.

At the very least, he needed to grow a bit more and definitely adapt to the power he had gained.

For that, a dungeon was more suitable for growth than the Tower of Trials, so he was just going back.

Moreover, he wasn't the only one thinking this way.

- Prog: Wow, I thought I would fail at the 7th floor trial... I need to get out of the Tower of Trials for a while and farm outside.

- Hunter's Standard: Yeah, that sounds good. Transporting items outside is possible, so it's more efficient.

- Nimsang Goblin: The Hunter Market is now over kek, I need to dump all the lowest-grade items.

- Prog: Really, thanks to the items from the Tower, I'll make some good money.

- Strength Breather: I need to break the 8th floor trial with my gear. I think I need to climb the Tower until I regain my original stats. Even if it's awkward, this is the best way to get stronger.

- Search Team Leader: I've regained all my stats, but I'm going to climb the Tower. Climbing the Tower here is better for making money and getting stronger than always clearing dungeons.

- Hunter's Standard: Still, it's better to farm items in reality and then climb.

Those who intended to climb the Tower of Trials were preparing to some extent in reality.

They all agreed that it would be more beneficial to prepare items and break the 8th floor trial.

People's thoughts might be similar in this regard.

'Anyway, quite a few people are planning to climb the Tower.'

For some, it was to regain their original stats, and for others, it was a better way to make money.

The reasons for climbing were different, but many people were determined to climb the Tower on their own.

"...I thought I was abnormal, but maybe not."

Seeing people who were determined to climb just to get stronger made it more evident.

People who had adapted to the Tower of Trials all saw it as an opportunity to turn their lives around.

'I'm not much different, either.'

He was climbing the Tower because he wanted to get stronger.

Of course, that didn't mean he wanted to fight recklessly.

Just then,

- Dodab Bung: But it seems the outside world is in chaos because of the Tower of Trials.

'Oh.'

The topic shifted to reality because someone knew about the outside world.

It was an interesting topic, so I shook off my thoughts and started to focus on the conversation.

- Hunter's Standard: The government and the Hunter Association were shocked by the Tower of Trials. It's the first time ordinary people are being dragged into dungeons.

- Baekbaekbaek: Wow, you already returned and came back? How do you know so much?

- Hunter's Standard: I could break the 7th floor trial quickly, so I returned for a day to check the situation.

- Dodab Bung: Wow, that's enviable. So, did the Association and the government come up with any policies?

- Hunter's Standard: Haha, what can they do? Hunters are being dragged in too. They just give basic guidelines and say they'll try to figure out the cause.

- Prepared Porter: The government couldn't do anything, and the Association is similar. At least, they say you can easily return if you choose the easy difficulty.

- Hunter's Standard: Rumor has it that most people on easy difficulty have already broken the 15th floor, and those on normal difficulty have passed the 10th floor.

- Dodab Bung: Crazy, everyone is progressing so fast. I almost failed here.

It was useful information I hadn't had in a long time.

'The outside world is gradually learning about the Tower of Trials.'

It was surprising that ordinary people were starting to recognize it clearly.

Of course, the government couldn't come up with any countermeasures for this phenomenon.

'That's only natural.'

Humans couldn't prepare for something like a great upheaval.

- Hunter's Standard: Be careful, the prices of the lowest-grade items in the Hunter Market are starting to be adjusted.

- Secondhand Merchant: Haha, with a flood of challengers from easy and normal difficulties, the prices of items are dropping.

- Dodab Bung: What... I'm going crazy, really.

- Prog: Oh, so F-grade items won't make much money...

- Secondhand Merchant: Yeah, E-grade items will also be adjusted soon, so only D-grade and above will be safe.

- Admin's Son: Many people are trying to register as Hunters, so you need to wait at least a month, and you'll have to state whether you're from the Tower of Trials or not.

As expected, the market prices outside have changed, just as I predicted.

"At least I'm glad I secured everything in advance."

I had already handled my Hunter registration and item sales in advance.

I didn't need to wait a month to register as a Hunter, and I didn't need to despair even if the prices of lower-grade items were adjusted.

'It was worth using the Return Stone to come back.'

If my judgment had been a bit slower, the situation would not have been good.

I would have faced various annoying issues.

But because I was prepared, I could set aside such personal matters for now.

"For now, I just need to focus on growth."

I decided to ignore various topics for the time being.

「Challenger Han Seongyun, your will to return has been confirmed.」

「Using the Return Stone, you are returning to Earth.」

I needed to prepare for the new changes immediately.

***

「Challenger Han Seongyun has returned to his residence.」

Seeing the message I had seen once before, I got out of bed.

Because it was the second time, I adapted more easily this time.

"Hmm, as expected, I could bring them this time too."

The items I had been carrying around the bed were scattered again.

The Sword of Thunder, the Secret Hunter's Shield, the Assassin's Cloak, the Boots of Swift, the Mithril Pendant, and so on.

I had successfully brought all the items I had been wearing.

'Well, I probably can't sell these items this time.'

They were still useful, so I didn't plan to sell them immediately.

"Huff..."

Inhaling the stuffy air of the studio, I thought about what to do first.

I didn't need to shower since I had the Stone of Cleanliness...

With the limited time, it was hard to take a break.

This return was purely for growth.

'I can't waste it.'

I had to move efficiently.

To get stronger, I needed to enter dungeons, but entering dungeons was difficult.

I needed a party, and a newly registered Hunter had to have party members.

The rule in the Hunter industry was that a party of at least two people was required to start the first dungeon raid.

This was a measure taken because many novice Hunters experienced panic in real combat.

'The problem is that forming a party is not easy...'

There were issues with gemstone distribution and reward distribution, and parties were generally awkward.

If I encountered a malicious Hunter, it could even lead to murder.

Therefore, most novice Hunters built connections for their first raid.

Whether through a guild or other means to find party members.

However, I could say I had no such connections.

"Damn."

For an incompetent player, connections were a luxury, making the current situation difficult.

Moreover, even if I solved the party member issue, finding a dungeon would be difficult.

There were dungeons managed by specific guilds and public dungeons managed by the Association, but...

There were issues with both.

Dungeons used by a few people were relatively easy to access.

Since only guild members could use them, you could enter the dungeon immediately after applying.

However, public dungeons provided by organizations like the Association were different.

Public dungeons required a long wait to use, and most had poor growth efficiency.

This was because most high-quality dungeons were affiliated with some organization.

"Completely surrounded."

Sighing, I went to the balcony of the studio and opened the window.

The view wasn't great, but the stuffy air cleared a bit, and I felt a little better.

"What should I do..."

Even if I lacked something, I had to make do, but I lacked everything I needed.

It was too late to join a guild or organization and build connections now.

'...But I'm not completely without connections.'

Although it was a somewhat awkward connection, I did have one.

The only connection I had from the Tower of Trials.

―If you return to Earth later, please find Lee Hae-yeon of the White Guild.

One of the teammates I met on the 4th floor trial had said that.

I still remembered the words clearly because I had added him as a friend on the community.

Of course, I hadn't properly talked to him since then because it felt awkward to initiate a conversation.

He had tried to contact me a few times, but I was always busy and couldn't respond properly.

However, during that process, he had left his phone number, asking me to contact him if I ever got out of the Tower.

Since he had given it to me in case I got out of the Tower, I had remembered it.

He seemed to be quite skilled, so he might have returned to Earth by now.

'If I helped him on the 4th floor trial, it might be okay to contact him once.'

I wouldn't have contacted him otherwise, but I desperately needed connections.

Just as I was about to take out my smartphone to contact him,

Beep...

「Emergency Disaster Text」

「A D-grade Gate that was not detected has appeared in the Yidong Community Park in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.」

「The number of Gates that have appeared is three, and they are all dungeons that require permanent management.」

「Citizens are advised not to enter the park and to be cautious of safety hazards.」

"Wait, what?"

My eyes widened as I read the text message that appeared with the vibration of my smartphone.

I had just been planning to form a party through connections and enter a public dungeon...

'If a Gate has appeared nearby, the situation changes.'

For Hunters, the unexpected appearance of a Gate was like a hot time.

Undetected Gates were handled by Hunters in the vicinity, not by any organization.

If it were a disaster that offered no help, Hunters would have been upset.

'But the unexpected appearance of a Gate is a honey event.'

A situation where a dungeon, which was usually under strict management, could be used immediately.

So, Hunters formed teams and headed to the nearby Gates before the mobilization order was issued.

To use a dungeon that hadn't yet fallen into someone's hands.

Even if it was called a disaster, if no one was around, no one would be affected.

'So, it's called a honey event for Hunters.'

In game terms, it was like a double experience event.

In such a situation, teams were formed on the spot, but that wasn't important anymore.

I immediately searched for related posts on the Hunter Association's website.

「A party of three is looking for a good utility melee Hunter.」

「Looking for a D-grade or higher Hunter to duo in the emergency Gate in Yidong Community Park, Uiwang.」

「A party of five is looking for a recovery and defense Hunter, please contact us.」

Despite having appeared only a few minutes ago, there were already many posts looking for party members.

Even with all these people planning to enter the Gates that had appeared nearby, there were still many.

Everyone was united in trying to get a share of this grand event.

So, I couldn't stay out of it this time.

"I can't miss such an event."

If I could check my newly acquired abilities and grow at the same time...

'There's no reason to avoid it.'

I quickly looked through the posts looking for party members and gathered the equipment in the studio.

It was time to start my first dungeon raid.