Chapter 11
Too Strong While Living Alone
The Courage to Climb the Tower
A few hours later, inside the apartment.
“Ughhh!”
Shin So-hyun emptied a cup full of beer in one gulp, then slammed it down onto the table with a loud thud! Her face was already flushed red, clearly tipsy.
“Wow, this is amazing! Shabu-shabu and beer… Since when did you get so good at cooking?”
“The beer’s store-bought, and the shabu-shabu… I just prepped the ingredients and put them in.”
“Still, come on!”
“Be careful with the cup—it’ll break. I just bought that today.”
Minho smirked slightly and, using a ladle, scooped up some shabu-shabu and pushed it toward So-hyun.
“Ughhh, when did our Minho get so grown-up!”
“Stop whining and just eat.”
So-hyun ruffled her hair messily, and Minho answered curtly, brushing her hand aside.
During the meal, So-hyun shrugged and picked up another piece of beef, swirling it in the broth.
“By the way… you said you want a pet?”
“Yeah, I’m seriously thinking about it.”
“Hmmm… why?”
“I’ve just always wanted one. It gets lonely being alone.”
Honestly, he felt that way.
In the past, he’d been too busy earning money and making a fuss to feel lonely. But recently, spending more time at his apartment in the Infinite Tower made him realize something:
When alone in a space without another’s warmth, muttering to yourself… it leaves a strange emptiness.
So-hyun stroked her chin and replied:
“Hmmm… I’m against it.”
“Why?”
“It’s not that I don’t get your feelings, but keeping an animal costs a lot of money.”
“Money?”
“Yeah, aren’t you already struggling to pay off your debts? Wasn’t it like 300 million won in loans?”
“Ah…”
It was true. A 30-year loan with equal monthly payments. Being his first stepping-stone loan, the interest rate was low, so including principal, he only paid a little over 700,000 won per month. He had some savings, and thanks to Venti, he was earning well enough now that it wasn’t a huge burden.
‘She doesn’t know that,’ he thought.
Scratching his forehead, Minho answered:
“Well, I can handle it.”
But So-hyun frowned, clearly displeased with the answer.
Thunk!
“That guy.”
“Ah!”
She flicked his forehead.
“So, how do you earn money?”
“Uh… promissory notes…”
“See? You couldn’t answer right away. You’re not really working properly now, are you?”
“Huh?”
“You can tell just by looking at your apartment. You’ve got all this stuff, the TV, cooking… When does a working guy have time to buy all this and cook?”
“Well, I am actually earning money…”
“Then what exactly?”
He couldn’t say, “I’m riding a bus driven by a beastman from another dimension in the tower.”
“…I shouldn’t say that,” Minho scratched his head.
“Well, I do various deliveries and part-time jobs,” he said.
“Ha! When you work, you’re always so busy and tired you can’t even see me.”
“…Hey, why do you keep questioning me like this?”
As expected, So-hyun was sharp as a tack.
Sighing deeply, she said:
“Minho, if it’s really too hard… why not join our guild?”
“The guild… Deungjeonghoe? How could I join that?”
“There are administrative positions even for lower-tier players. The pay is good, benefits are solid. I’m not high-ranking, but I can get you a job there.”
“…”
Her voice was tinged with bitterness. Minho blinked, staring at her.
It felt like:
-
Hey! Didn’t you say to tell you if I’m having a hard time?
-
But…
-
Shut up! Follow me; I’ll make them apologize to you!
For a moment, the sister he remembered from the orphanage overlapped with the current So-hyun, and Minho smiled wryly.
“It’s fine, sis. I can really take care of myself now. I don’t want to owe anyone anymore.”
“Haah… owe anyone? Why do you talk like that… I’m hurt, hurt!”
Shrugging, Minho picked up some meat and swirled it, quickly changing the topic.
“Anyway, enough about that. Tell me something fun.”
“Fun stories? I don’t have any…”
“They say ‘The King of Solo Life’ is causing a stir in the player world. Haven’t you heard anything?”
At the mention of that, So-hyun frowned, then firmly extended her arm.
“Beer.”
“Here.”
Handing over a can, she drank a big gulp without pouring it into a cup.
“I hope he exists, I hope… Where is that guy, what’s he doing?”
“…He’s right in front of you,” Minho awkwardly said.
“They said the association keeps looking for him?”
“Yes, no matter what! They told me to find him by any means. Not just us—they’re desperate too. This player cleared the 1st and 2nd floors in absurd times… everyone wants him.”
“But even if they look for him, he might not want to be found.”
“I don’t care. I’ll make him come, no matter what. Kneeling, begging, whatever.”
“Why go that far?”
Gulp! So-hyun drained the can, continuing:
“Do you call that a question? Because we have to conquer the tower. If we don’t, the building will collapse and people will die.”
“…But the King of Solo Life might not care about that.”
“If he doesn’t, I’ll make sure he does. Teach him to care.”
“Teach him what?”
“That with great power comes great responsibility. If you’re not going to use that power properly, give it to me.”
So-hyun’s clenched fists and intense glare reflected her determination.
“Huh… I see.”
“Eh, enough boring stories! Something else! Do you have a girlfriend these days?”
“Do I look like I do?”
After that, they returned to their usual banter.
“Hey, remember that kid? He stole a bike and totally messed up the shelter.”
“Ugh… don’t remind me.”
Stories from their orphanage days.
“That crazy bastard… I wanted to kill him.”
“Just say it, I’d beat him for you.”
Gossip about a senior at the guild.
“Wow, my house really collapsed because of Monster Pol?”
“Ahahaha!”
The vivid description of the house being destroyed by Monster Pol. They’d talked about it before, meaningless stories—but they were fun.
How much time had passed?
“Ughhh…”
Was he too drunk?
Thunk!
So-hyun collapsed face-first onto the table.
“Sis… sis…”
Shaking her didn’t wake her.
“Haah… why did you drink so fast?”
Minho lifted her onto a beanbag, covering her with a blanket.
“Mmmn…”
Looks like she won’t get up for a while.
‘Well, let her sleep here,’ he thought.
He shook his head and picked up her coat lying nearby, taking it to the hanger.
Then… thud!
Something fell from her pocket.
“Huh? What’s this…?”
On the floor lay a cigarette and a lighter. Minho frowned as he picked them up.
-
Ah, stop smoking. It’s bad for your body.
-
You’ll understand someday. There are times when you just can’t endure without it.
-
Nonsense.
Back in high school, she used to smoke when stressed. He heard she quit afterward.
‘Stress… huh.’
Judging by her, it made sense. Seeing the crumpled pack left a bitter taste in his mouth.
‘Let’s just go to the convenience store.’
Minho stuffed the cigarette and lighter into his pocket and left the apartment. His plan: buy hangover remedies.
“Thanks!”
“Yep.”
On the way back, he stopped at an empty lot. Sitting on a vacant swing, he stared blankly at the sky.
Among the low buildings, the World Tree Tower rose far in the distance. The chilly late-autumn wind brushed his face.
-
With great power comes great responsibility. If you’re not going to use that power properly, give it to me.
So-hyun’s earlier words echoed in his mind.
‘Responsibility… doesn’t suit me at all.’
Although he had been enjoying life in the Infinite Tower apartment, now his mood soured.
He fiddled with his pockets, and rustle! something caught his hand. He pulled out the cigarette pack and lighter. Staring at them, he took a drag.
“Cough! Ugh, disgusting taste.”
Why did she smoke this? He stomped it out and threw the pack in a nearby trash can.
“What a sister, always making things complicated.”
Still, he had no plans to play hero. The world hadn’t been kind to a kid from the shelter like him. But… he planned to climb the tower anyway. For his solo-life dream. For his own survival and sweet life. With about half a year left until Monster Pol. For his only family. He could afford to speed up the climb a little.
“Nosy, nosy.”
Shaking his head, Minho sighed, a complicated expression on his face.
A few days later, inside the apartment:
“Wow, Minho, there’s so much food today!”
“Eat a lot! I prepared plenty.”
“Thanks!”
Crunch crunch! Gulp!
Venti devoured the food on the table with enthusiasm.
‘Today, I’ll satisfy him 100%, no, 200%.’
The table groaned under the weight of the food: tteokbokki, cup noodles, triangle kimbap, bone soup, jokbal, mala soup, sweet and sour pork, jajangmyeon, dongpo pork… plus cola, cider, Fanta, and various energy drinks. The fridge had assorted ice cream, strawberry bingsu, and desserts waiting.
‘Maximize satisfaction so Venti stays here every possible second.’
A few days ago, Minho had decided to speed up the tower climb and prepared accordingly.
The feast continued…
“Ughhh, Minho. I can’t eat anymore.”
Venti had cleaned out the fridge desserts and was patting his belly. Even visually, he seemed slightly chubbier in a short time.
Fortunately:
[Guest Venti is extremely satisfied.]
[Venti is very pleased with your hospitality and will reward you!]
[Stay time set to 8 hours.]
A stay time of 8 hours!
‘If I pace it right, I can climb 2–3 floors in one go.’
Minho jumped up:
“Venti, you’re helping me climb the tower today, right?”
“Of course! You’re treating me so well, I have to!”
“Then… wear this!”
“Huh?”
Minho held out a piece of clothing from the corner of the room.
Venti’s eyes widened.
“You want me to wear this?”
