Chapter 44: Full Moon Wolf 4
The day Han Se-ah slipped away to the temple to dodge the mages' endless prattle, a lot changed overnight.
The most noticeable change was the imposing stone gate that stood tall in the morning light.
Whether it was the work of magic or the system's power, the gate was built in a single night.
It was so large that it could swallow not just people but entire carriages.
"So, what did we get for taking down the Full Moon Wolf?"
"First, we've got an unlimited access pass to the 10th-floor gate, plus a set of intermediate-level adventurer gear for me and Grace. Irene and Roland each get to pick a magic tool. They say they're out of cash since they used all the Full Moon Wolf loot to build the gate."
"Magic tools? Sounds good."
Han Se-ah got a mage's robe infused with magical power and a hefty staff with a magic stone embedded into it.
Grace, on the other hand, received leather armor treated with a magical potion.
Of course, Irene, who insists on sticking with her nun's robes while we're in the tower, and me, for whom intermediate-level gear is no use, were given magic tools instead.
I got a purifying gadget, like an air cleaner, and Irene received a device to keep the kids warm in winter.
'So, gear and skill upgrades instead of money? Not bad.'
It seemed like Han Se-ah, as a mage, got some extra skill points too.
It felt like the game was rewarding us for killing the boss.
And so, our party members gathered around a table in the cafe.
I stole glances at the forum while engaging in conversation.
Following Grace's suggestion to take a break, we rendezvoused on the bustling market street.
After all, being an adventurer is a dangerous business.
If you don't take time off when you need it, you could work yourself to death.
From a gamer's point of view, if you log in and hunt every day, you end up working seven days a week.
Working seven days a week, clocking in 360 hours a month and no life insurance?
That's one crazy schedule.
"But an unlimited gate pass?"
"The Magic Tower built that costly gate for research. Even if it didn't involve Full Moon Wolf loot, the material cost for such a space-travel gate would be pricier than most nobles' estates."
"Indeed, it seems like incredible magic."
No doubt, a space-travel gate isn't child's play.
Even for a mage, magic that transcends space isn't cheap or easy to use.
If it were that simple, I would have hopped through a gate whenever I had a request in the kingdom's outskirts.
But gates linking the kingdom's cities are rare, only accessible to high-ranking nobles and esteemed people of the Magic Tower.
Just giving a regular adventurer access to such a gate is a massive perk.
It means joining a privileged group in a world where social hierarchy matters more than money.
"So we're starting from the 10th floor tomorrow? That's great."
Grace, taking a sip of her drink, shares her thoughts.
If you can skip the first nine floors that aren't profitable, most people would be thrilled.
Unless the gate cost is absurdly high, intermediate-level adventurers will use it every time.
Mages with any sense would set a fair price.
One that 10th floor adventurers, who earn their living hunting horned wolves, could afford.
It's more enticing to pay the Magic Tower to use the gate than to trudge through nine floors, allowing more time to hunt more horned wolves.
Of course, this didn't concern our party, who could use it for free.
"But what was up with that wolf?"
Her speech, behavior, and character confirmed it: this was Rebecca.
But there was a reason why I hadn't recognized her initially.
Rebecca wasn't this beautiful before, was she?
"You've become more beautiful since I last saw you."
"I've just returned to the city after a long while and freshened up. Why, does this sister's face make your heart flutter?"
Nonchalantly crossing her legs, she made quite an impression.
Unlike Grace and Irene, who seemed bewildered by the situation, Han Se-ah, her mouth agape, was awkwardly talking with her chat.
Rebecca hadn't just become prettier; she'd also received some stars.
I knew that various people, from the local baker's wife to Grace, a simple village girl, had transformed into gacha characters and received stars.
But seeing someone you've known for several years go through the same change feels different.
"So, are you planning to return to the tower? We've been short on decent vanguards lately, and it's been quite a hassle."
"I'm not heading straight for the 43rd floor."
"Because of the beginners you've taken under your wing? You've even managed to recruit a priest in such a short time. Impressive."
Rebecca seemed somewhat disappointed, licking her lips.
But thanks to her new-found beauty, her demeanor appeared more down-to-earth and spirited, rather than brash and rude.
...Before her transformation into a star-studded gacha character, she bore more resemblance to a filthy wild beast.
Due to the harsh conditions of the tower, with her disheveled hair and infrequent baths, she was practically a homeless beast.
It's as though a homeless person at Seoul station became Won Bin after a good cleaning and grooming.
"Um, who is this lady...?"
"Me? I'm Rebecca. A b*tch who lives on the edge and came to climb the tower in hopes of big money."
In response to Irene's question, Rebecca grinned, revealing her gums.
She grabbed a handful of my cookies and crunched them down.
It was like watching a delinquent intruding on a group of honor students.
And this delinquent had physical prowess.
She may act brashly towards me, who was assisted and nurtured by her during my early days as an adventurer, but she seemed to have no intention of being disrespectful to a temple priest, as her pillaging ended with my coffee and cookies.
"So, why are you here instead of on the 43rd floor?"
"It's because of you. You bagged some rare horned wolf and managed to open a gate to the tower's 10th floor, right?"
"What... The news reached the 43rd floor overnight?"
"You've really forgotten everything. The mage on the 43rd floor heard about the gate and threw a fit, insisting on returning immediately. The news has already spread like wildfire."
Ah, that makes sense. The senior mages must have bragged to the 43rd-floor mage through a crystal ball.
Rebecca, reclining in the chair like a well-fed beast, opened her mouth.
"So I came to negotiate about the use of the gate. Hey, if you're raising kids, why don't you take one of ours and raise them?"
***
Uhh Won Bin is a SK actor very famous for his looks. No other meaning other than homeless-looking girl takes a shower and turns into someone as beautiful as an actress/actor.
4/5 Enjoy the chappy!
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