HLABS 02

Chapter 2

Too Strong Even Living Alone
The Bus Driver

Under the shade of a tree.

“Hmmm, this is tasty.”

Benti and Minho were sitting side by side, chewing on something.

It was a convenience store purchase—just a thousand won.

The forever best-seller in the world of chewy candies: sweet and sour.

While Benti chewed with a satisfied expression, wiping the blood from his axe…

I scratched my forehead and stared at them blankly.

“What on earth… is going on?”

One hour earlier.

• “Now, lead me to the World Tree Tower!”

• “Do we really have to go there?”

• “We have to make a repayment before we can leave!”

Benti insisted on repayment.

Even if I tried to refuse, he wouldn’t listen… and eventually, we ended up crawling into the tower.

How did we get in?

I opened my status window and adjusted things… and the previously locked door on the other side directly connected to the tower.

Like Dorae○’s “Anywhere Door.”

Well, that’s not the important part right now.

“Why is that guy so strong?”

The first floor of the World Tree Tower is essentially a tutorial zone.

But from what I’ve heard, it’s not exactly easy.

Players with low-grade talents are said to risk their lives just to defeat a couple of goblins.

For an average player, clearing the first floor usually takes 3–4 months—with support from a major guild.

Even highly talented, promising players need at least 10 days.

And if unlucky, some even die on the first floor.

In short, the tutorial zone is not something to be underestimated.

But…

Benti was killing the first-floor monsters as if they were ants.

Within just tens of minutes, it felt like he had defeated almost a hundred of them.

“Status window.”

I opened the status window in front of me.

───────

[Player ‘Ha Minho’]

• Talent: Infinite Studio Apartment

• Floor Reached: 1st Floor (Current Max Level: 10)

• Level: 7

• Achievements: 0

• Unique Skills:

  1. [Anywhere Door]: Can open the door to the studio apartment anytime, anywhere.

  2. [Invite Guest]: Invite guests to the studio apartment. (Remaining Time: 1 hour 50 minutes)

※ Meet certain conditions to unlock more unique skills.

───────

Currently, I’m level 7.

I was already close to the maximum level for a first-floor climber: 10.

Maybe it’s my imagination, but my muscles feel firmer and my body lighter.

“How long does it usually take to reach player level 8?”

Tada-dat, tada-dat.

I typed the question into the player community on my smartphone.

Soon, answers began to appear.

[Sa Ilmane: Level 8? For a C-rank player, it should take about a month.]
[Me: A month? Can’t you get it quickly by taking a bus? Like in the game, a high-level player could carry you.]
[Sa Ilmane: What are you talking about? In the tower, you only get experience if you defeat monsters yourself.]
[Me: Oh, really?]
[Sa Ilmane: Yep. And if you’re high-level, it’s more profitable to farm your own floor than help someone else.]
[Me: Thanks~]

“Hmmm.”

So even for an average-level player (actually, a C-rank player is already in the top 15%), it would still take about a month to reach level 8.

“But… taking a bus doesn’t work? I haven’t even killed a single monster… so why did my level increase?”

Weird, really weird…

Just then, as if reading my thoughts, the status window popped up a message.

[Guests in your studio apartment can repay the host during the invited time.]
[The repayment received this way is partially exempt from the tower’s restrictions.]

So…

This hunting act itself counts as repayment… and thus I can earn experience?

[Yes, that’s correct.]
[Think of it like a housewarming gift.]

I see… so that’s how it works.

“What a strange talent…”

I nodded, then rummaged through the backpack on my back.

Clink! Clink!

Several glowing blue crystals were inside.

A grin spread across my face.

“Magic stones.”

Crystals with immense energy.

Used for trading with tower inhabitants.

They could also be sold outside for a high price due to the energy contained.

The stronger the monsters you defeat, the purer the magic stones.

Although it varies, first-floor stones usually sell for around 100,000 won each.

So… if I add it all up…

“That’s at least 3 million won!”

An absurd amount for a day’s work.

I scratched my head and asked Benti.

“Um, Benti… can I really keep all this?”

“Of course! I have far better magic stones in my world!”

Benti answered cheerfully.

To a veteran, these probably have little value.

My head felt slightly overwhelmed.

“Let’s ask carefully.”

I licked my lips and continued.

“Benti… you came from another world, right?”

“That’s right!”

“Where from, and why did you come here?”

Just as Benti was about to answer…

“Uh… um… uh…”

He moved his mouth, but no sound came out.

“What’s wrong with him?”

Benti scratched his forehead.

“Sorry. I guess I can’t say that—it violates the tower’s rules. I can only say I came from another world with a similar tower.”

“…Then, how far did you climb in your world’s tower?”

“Up to the 78th floor.”

“Whoa…”

I gaped.

There are over 100 towers in major cities worldwide.

Each country’s progress differs slightly, but one thing is certain:

“Most countries haven’t passed the 30th floor.”

Even in South Korea, known for strong players, no one had cleared beyond 30 floors.

And considering the max level per floor increases by 10…

“Then your level is… around 780?”

“Yeah, about that!”

“Wow… that’s insanely strong.”

“Well, I’ve heard that a lot in my world too! Though here, it seems my strength is somewhat limited…”

“Limited?”

“Yes, the tower imposes restrictions in this world. But even with this strength, I could probably handle up to floors 40–50!”

“40–50 floors?”

That’s more than double what Korean players have achieved.

I couldn’t help but gape.

“He’s serious, right?”

[It’s true.]

The status window confirmed.

“Ah… thanks.”

[You’re welcome.]

Of course… a beastman from another world wouldn’t gain anything by lying to me.

“Now… what should I do?”

I thought my talent was just a free studio apartment…

Apparently, it’s more than that.

Then Benti approached.

“Alright, we’ve rested enough. Let’s move to another hunting ground! We need to defeat at least one more monster before the time’s up.”

“Ah, yes!”

We moved forward to the next hunting ground.

“Well, if he’s giving me a ride, I shouldn’t refuse.”

Then…

“Stop right there.”

At the entrance of a forest, three players blocked the path.

Men and women in fantasy-style heavy armor.

Weapons sharp enough to be deadly at a glance. Clearly high-level players.

“What’s this?”

Benti tilted his head.

“This hunting ground beyond here is monopolized by our guild. Turn back.”

A man pointed to his chest.

A coiled snake emblem was embroidered on his armor.

“Ah, the Snake Guild.”

I’d seen them on YouTube.

Snake. Deungjeonghoe. Golddigger. Galaxia. Maniacs.

The five largest guilds in South Korea.

The Snake Guild is notorious for being rough and cruel.

“Better not get involved.”

I scratched my forehead.

Benti frowned.

“There’s no such thing. Nobody owns the tower’s hunting grounds.”

“Huh?”

The guild members exchanged glances and smirked.

“Hey miss, do you know who you’re talking to?”

“We’re the Snake Guild. We’re training our A-rank player, so don’t interfere and leave.”

I’d seen that on YouTube too.

“Guilds often focus on raising low-level players.”

High-talent players who awaken late? Guilds support them indirectly to climb faster.

In this case, they control the hunting ground to concentrate experience.

Not a good idea to provoke them.

The problem is… Benti doesn’t seem like he’s backing down.

“What if we refuse?”

“Well, try it. If you want to make a living in the tower, it won’t end well if you mess with us.”

One grim-looking player even poked Benti’s forehead.

“This feels bad…”

I scratched my head.

Benti calmly asked me:

“Minho… can I just kill them all?”

No emotion in his voice.

Not a joke.

“What did you just say?”

The guild members frowned.

“Kill them all… ugh!”

Snap!

Instinct kicked in. I quickly covered Benti’s mouth.

“It’s nothing. Thank you all for your effort!”

I shook my head, pulled Benti, and ran the other way.

When we gained distance from the Snake Guild members:

“Why, Minho? They’re nothing to me.”

“Well… killing people would… be a problem for me.”

As expected, he was serious.

Even if the tower is extraterritorial, I still live outside it.

“Ah, a shame, but maybe it’s time to head back. I think your repayment is enough.”

“No, it’s not enough. That exquisite dish you gave me! To truly repay that, we still need to do more!”

I tried to convince him to stop, but seeing the strange madness in his eyes and the well-sharpened axe, I gave up.

“Then let’s find another hunting ground. It’s not like this is the only one, right?”

Well, if the guest insists on repaying me, I can’t refuse.

A short while later…

Under the shade of a tree:

“…There aren’t many hunting grounds here.”
“That’s right.”

I shrugged and handed him a sweet-and-sour candy.

Benti chewed, furrowing his brows.

We wandered around, searching for hunting grounds.

But…

• “Excuse me.”

• “This spot is claimed by our guild.”

Every guild and party monopolized hunting grounds, leaving no space.

We managed to kill a few monsters here and there, but the excitement Benti had at the start was gone.

“So that’s why players fight to get into guilds.”

Player society values connections and guilds.

“Well, I can’t do much.”

I didn’t get more magic stones, but it was still free loot.

After all, I’m not obsessed with the tower.

I checked the remaining time in my status window.

[Invite Guest: Remaining Time / 53 minutes]

Time was running out.

“Benti, shouldn’t we head back? There aren’t many monsters left… I think your repayment is enough.”

He swallowed the candy, shook himself off, and stood up.

“No, there’s still time… I have to do something. And I just thought of a place to go.”

“Place? Where?”

“The boss room. Take me there.”

“…Huh?”

What did he just say?

My eyes went wide.