Chapter 4
Too Strong Just Living Alone
My Own Way
Inside the conference room of Korea’s top guild, “Deungjeonghoe.”
The walls were finished in pristine white marble, and soft lighting illuminated the ceiling.
It looked luxurious at first glance.
At the head of such a meeting room sat a man, eyes tightly shut, muttering:
“Damn it…”
A middle-aged man with a strong facial structure and a neatly groomed mustache.
Go Hae-il.
Guild master of Deungjeonghoe.
Korea’s first S-rank Hunter.
The man who first reached the 30th floor, the forefront of the Tower.
He let out a sigh, slammed his palm on the table, and said:
“…Three hours? Is this even possible?”
The faces of the Deungjeonghoe executives darkened.
“Ugh… we don’t really know either,” one spoke.
“We’ve checked multiple times… but the Tower’s records show it. The player’s name is ‘Please Subscribe to the King of Living Alone’…”
Yesterday afternoon, all of Korea and the player community were buzzing.
The reason was…
-
At 3 PM yesterday, the record for the fastest completion of the first floor of the World Tree Tower in Korea was updated.
It was a time far ahead of Go Hae-il’s week-long record. The player’s name was reported as “Please Subscribe to the King of Living Alone.” -
The government is currently tracking this player…
-
The time is unprecedented worldwide… and some Tower experts even suspect this might be a glitch in the Tower.
Someone had cleared the first floor in record time and stolen the achievement.
It took just three hours from entry to completion.
This far surpassed Go Hae-il’s record of one week—the fastest in Korea.
Nobody could understand it.
Physically, it was impossible.
And on top of that, the player had the ridiculous name: “Please Subscribe to the King of Living Alone.”
Go Hae-il asked:
“‘Please Subscribe to the King of Living Alone’… ahem, anyway! Have we investigated who that weird nickname belongs to?”
A female player with tied-back hair and glasses responded seriously.
Vice president of Deungjeonghoe, Kang So-young.
“We checked with the Association and our informants. There’s no one suspicious. There haven’t been many A-rank or higher Awakened players recently anyway.”
“…Then who on earth is it?”
Kang So-young hesitated, then replied seriously:
“My guess… maybe the Tower itself has a problem?”
“A problem?”
“Yes. Think about it. Even the fastest clear of a labyrinth takes at least two days… How could someone clear it in three hours? It doesn’t make sense.”
“That may be true, but…”
Go Hae-il felt a pit in his stomach.
The biggest issue was losing the achievement “Fastest to Defeat Garuda” when the fastest completion record was updated.
In the World Tree Tower, leveling up grants one stat per level.
But the achievement for Garuda’s fastest clear gives Strength 3, Agility 3.
Essentially, it’s an achievement that boosts six levels at once—a ridiculously powerful reward.
Now, it was completely gone. Naturally, he was frustrated.
And that wasn’t all.
“This isn’t just my problem. The entire guild has taken a major hit.”
Having the title of fastest 1st-floor clear gives prestige to the guild master.
It attracts skilled players to the guild and drives sponsorships and investments from numerous companies.
Deungjeonghoe had lost a significant intangible asset.
Go Hae-il asked again:
“Has there ever been an error or problem in the Tower before?”
“…Not really.”
Everyone’s expression became awkward.
Go Hae-il wanted to dismiss this as an accident.
But having invested the most time in the Tower, he knew the truth.
The Tower’s system is absolute; there are no errors.
“What about the possibility of a foreign player sneaking in and clearing it?”
“That’s unlikely. Not many overseas players have cleared it faster than the guild master. No one has ever done it in under six days.”
“Ugh…”
Go Hae-il tapped the table with his fingers.
No matter which route they investigated, there was no information. Anxiety and frustration boiled over.
If there truly is a player who cleared the Tower in three hours…
They must possess an absurdly strong talent.
Then… the rules of the entire player world would be turned upside down.
His lips dried. Fear and caution arose simultaneously, making his pupils tremble.
Korea’s number-one guild, Deungjeonghoe.
Despite all efforts to maintain the guild’s reputation and status… his instincts warned him of a possible fracture.
Go Hae-il interlocked his fingers and said:
“Keep using our informants to track and observe. There’s always a ‘what if.’”
Kang So-young adjusted her glasses and asked:
“What if that player really exists?”
“One of two things. If they could join us… we need to treat them well and recruit them. If not…”
“If not?”
He licked his lips and continued:
“We cut the bud off before it grows.”
A subtle tension fell over the executives’ faces.
In a corner of the Infinite Solo Apartment:
Brrrrrrrr—
The microwave buzzed loudly as it spun.
Ding dong!
After a moment, the timer signaled it was done.
“Ahh… done.”
Opening the microwave, he took out a convenience store meal and placed it on the table.
“Hmm… delicious. Spam.”
It was a Majangho lunchbox. A new release, with overall good quality side dishes. The balance of salty and sweet was perfect.
While eating, he watched “King of Living Alone” on his smartphone.
The episode’s title: “The Miracle of a 14-Pyeong One-Room Apartment.”
Exactly the same size as his own current room.
“Well decorated. Nice sense.”
The small space was cleverly arranged—plenty of ideas to reference.
He nodded, occasionally murmuring in appreciation. Sometimes, he jotted down items he liked on a nearby notepad.
By the time he finished his meal:
“Finally, a word to the subscribers!”
“Subscribe and like! Turn on notifications!”
The episode ended just then.
“Phew… that was good.”
This was happiness. This was life.
He cleaned up roughly and settled into a corner of the room.
A quick glance around.
The room was still empty—no appliances or furniture yet.
Yet, it brought a smile to his face.
This is Sweet My Home.
The place where he would realize his solo-living dreams.
“Soon, it’ll be bigger and better.”
With enough Solo Apartment Points, he could expand the room and add countless conveniences.
Truly, a solo-living cheat.
Ideally, he’d like to climb the Tower to the 100th floor right now.
The problem…
“Guess I can’t go just yet.”
His talent only allowed him to develop his solo apartment.
Climbing the Tower like other players without skills? Like climbing a cliff with bare hands.
Two possible solutions:
-
Spend a fortune on equipment.
-
Have a guild or party backing him.
Being from a proud shelter background, neither was possible.
The only option:
“Invite a guest…”
Checking his status:
[Venti – Time until next invite: 6 days 3 hours]
Six days left until he could invite Venti.
Until then, he had work to do.
“Decorate the apartment as much as possible.”
The talent’s detailed description clearly stated: satisfy the guest by providing the best hospitality.
Not just good food… but a good experience in the room.
Currently, the room was extremely sparse for hosting.
But now, it was possible. He had 3.5 million won from selling magic stones and time.
And that’s why he watched King of Living Alone.
A small problem remained…
“What kind of apartment would a beastman like?”
He had seen countless apartments on King of Living Alone… but didn’t know what would suit Venti, a beastman.
Nothing on YouTube. Nothing in the player community.
‘Decorating blindly now might be risky.’
He wanted to host properly. But all he knew about Venti:
-
“Extremely strong.”
-
“Likes cup noodles and triangle kimbap.”
That was it. He had no clue what else to do.
Even someone knowledgeable about beastmen nearby would help immensely…
“Oh, there is someone.”
Suddenly, one person’s face came to mind.
He picked up his phone, searched a name, and called.
Riiing! Riiing!
After several rings:
<<Huh? Minho? Since when do you call?>>
“Hey, long time no see, unnie. How have you been?”
Shin So-hyun.
Three years older, stayed with him at the same shelter.
They were close, like siblings, sharing similar personalities.
Problem: after leaving the shelter, she awakened as a player—B-rank.
She joined the top-5 guild, Deungjeonghoe, made money, and even supported him for a year after he left the shelter.
Now, she was a high-level player who had reached the Tower’s highest floor.
Meaning…
‘She knows beastmen well.’
From the 10th floor, beastmen appear as Tower residents (NPC-like).
So-hyun would know their tastes.
Her help would be invaluable for decorating the apartment.
Through the phone came her voice:
<<Ugh… surviving, not really living. Hunting, clearing… why did I even become a player?>>
Tiredness and fatigue were clear in her voice.
He cautiously asked:
“Looks like you’re really busy.”
<<Why?>>
“I wanted to ask a favor. If you’re busy, never mind.”
<<Tell me, I still have energy to help you.>>
Geez… felt bad asking someone so exhausted.
‘Still… now’s not the time to hesitate.’
He needed to push forward, repay her kindness.
“Unnie, you know I awakened the Solo Apartment talent, right?”
<<Yeah, you said on KakaoTalk.>>
“I’m decorating the apartment… can you help?”
<<Interior?>>
“Yes. A guest will come soon… I want to decorate it to their taste.”
<<…>>
A brief silence. She cleared her throat, then said with a teasing tone:
<<Do you have a girlfriend?>>
“No, just a guest.”
<<So this guest is a girlfriend? Who’s coming that you’re decorating a room?>>
Classic. Always teasing.
“Anyway… can you help or not? I’ll adjust the schedule, and pay for everything.”
<<Whoa! Minho, really? Of course I can! I’m off duty in two days. Call then?>>
“Call.”
<<See you then! Gotta go on a mission now, bye.>>
Click.
She hung up. Busy, yet took the call.
“Ugh… then I should start preparing.”
Scratching his head, he opened a notebook and wrote the first line with a pen:
[Plan for Entertaining Beastman ‘Venti’ for Tower Climb]
