IRHHAC 02

Chapter 2

The office of Guild Han (韓), located in Mapo-gu.

Kim Joon stood by the window, staring toward Yeouido.

“Ha…”

He let out a long sigh, over and over again.

Waiting.

Waiting for the Tower of Trials to appear in Yeouido.

What was the Tower?

It was an existence that would completely overturn the existing hunter system.

Until now, hunters had been classified solely by ranks like S-rank, A-rank.

Limits decided at birth. An insurmountable wall.

But the Tower was different.

A level system.

A new possibility where anyone could grow stronger through effort.

An S-rank hunter at level 1 and a D-rank hunter at level 100 could possess similar combat power.

That was why countless hunters, regardless of rank, rushed into the Tower.

Though their end had not been a good one.

‘The most important thing is choosing a class.’

Currently, hunters had no clear concept of “classes.”

If their mana was strong, they fought like mages. If they were agile, like assassins. If sturdy, like tanks.

But the Tower’s system would force hunters into a structured class system.

At the 5th floor, the Class Advancement Trial.

There, they would choose a class suited to them.

Warrior, Guardian, Mage, Rogue…

And special classes.

Of course, there were also unique, hidden classes.

“This time… I’ll save everyone.”

Kim Joon muttered.

Before regression, he only learned at the 50th floor—

that hidden classes existed within the advancement test.

Far stronger than normal classes, but obtainable only by meeting special conditions.

If he had known from the start…

His companions might not have died.

No—he might have cleared the Tower.

Ding—!

A translucent window appeared before his eyes.

[Notice to Korean Hunters]
[The Tower of Trials has been opened.]
[The Tower consists of 100 floors and offers a new growth system beyond existing ranks.]
[Break your limits through leveling up.]
[Location: Yeouido, Seoul, Republic of Korea]
[Failure to conquer will result in severe penalties.]

It was time.

RUMBLE—!

The office shook.

A massive tremor from not far away.

Kim Joon looked outside.

From the direction of Yeouido, a colossal structure pierced the sky.

“…There should’ve still been time.”

According to his past memories, the Tower should have appeared in three days.

“…Could it be?”

Maybe it was related to the Red Gate, Lost Ruins.

But it didn’t matter.

This time would be different.

He would make sure of it.

The area around the Tower was already chaos.

Hunters, soldiers, and reporters crowded together.

“Did you all see your status windows?”
“They said it goes up to 100 floors.”
“They say you can grow stronger if you enter.”

The Tower was far larger than imagined.

A black spire rising endlessly into the sky.

Its overwhelming presence made people hesitate to approach.

A police barricade was set 10 meters from the entrance.

“No civilians allowed!”
“Please show your hunter ID!”

A translucent window floated at the entrance:

[Current entrants: 0]
[Capacity: Unlimited]
[Enter?]

“Oh! That’s Hunter Kim Joon!”
“Where?!”
“Hunter Kim Joon! Are you entering the Tower?”

The crowd stirred.

“Are you really going in?”
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
“Please say something!”

Reporters rushed in, but Kim Joon only stared at the entrance.

Without hesitation—

he reached out.

“Wait, he’s really going in!”
“Get the camera! Hurry!

[You have entered Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials.]
[A new growth system has been applied.]

Kim Joon opened his eyes.

A vast grassland stretched out before him.

In the distance, a small village.

And scattered around—

small green-skinned monsters.

Goblins.

Ding—!

[Quest Generated]
[Clear the Goblin Nest]
Objective: Kill 15 Goblins, defeat the Goblin Leader
Reward: 20 EXP

Without hesitation, Kim Joon drew his greatsword.

“Grrak?”
“Grrak! Grrraaaak!”

The goblins noticed him and charged as a group.

Goblins were cunning.

Individually only E-rank, but intelligent among low-tier monsters.

They used numerical advantage, ambush tactics, and deception.

Many rookie hunters underestimated them—and died.

SWISH—

The greatsword cut through the air.

“Grrrk—!”

The leading goblin’s head separated from its body.

The rest hesitated.

But only briefly.

“Grrak! Grrak!”

They attacked again—

some from the front, others flanking from both sides.

A classic encirclement.

But Kim Joon didn’t move.

He simply stood within an invisible circle, facing them.

After a brief breath—

he lightly swung his sword.

Slice—

“…Grr…?”

The goblins didn’t understand.

He hadn’t seemed to move.

Then why—

was the world spinning?

Why was the sky moving away, and the ground getting closer?

…Ah.

Their heads had been cut off.

Only then did they realize.

Thud thud thud—

Kim Joon flicked the blood off his blade.

Then—

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The ground shook.

A massive shadow emerged.

“GROOOAAAR!”

The Goblin Leader.

Four times larger than normal goblins, wielding a giant axe.

The floor’s boss.

“…Long time no see.”

Kim Joon smiled.

He remembered.

And he knew—

there was a hidden condition.

‘Kill it with bare hands.’

Last time, it had been accidental.

His weapon broke, forcing him to fight barehanded.

But this time—

Clink.

He set down his greatsword.

“I can’t miss the hidden reward.”

He clenched his fists.

“Come.”

“GROOOAAAR!”

The leader raised its axe.

BOOM!

The ground shattered—but Kim Joon had already stepped aside.

THUD—!

His fist struck its abdomen.

Green blood burst from its mouth.

The monster staggered—

then attacked again.

WHOOSH—

The axe came down.

He rolled aside.

THUD! THUD! CRACK—!

Repeated blows shattered ribs.

“GROOOAAARGH!”

Enraged, it swung wildly.

But to Kim Joon—

everything was slow.

BAM!

A clean hit to the jaw.

The monster staggered.

Then—

BAM BAM BAM!

A relentless barrage.

Its face became a bloody mess.

Its nose crushed.

One eye burst.

THUD—

It collapsed.

Blood pooled beneath it.

“Huff… huff…”

His fists were soaked in blood and flesh.

Ding—!

[Hidden Condition Achieved!]
[Defeated Goblin Leader barehanded]
[Hidden Reward Granted]

[Obtained: “Bellron’s Hammer”]
Rank: S
Effect: Doubles item enhancement success rate

Kim Joon smiled.

‘Bellron’s Hammer.’

In his previous life, it had been invaluable.

Normally, enhancement had high failure rates.

Above +5, failure exceeded 70%.

Failure meant destruction or downgrade.

But this hammer—

Prevented destruction entirely.

And doubled success rates.

70% → 35%
90% → 45%

Without it, he wouldn’t have reached the 100th floor.

“…Especially after floor 10.”

He stored the hammer.

There was no better early reward.

Floors 2 to 5 were cleared easily.

Goblins, spiders, wolves, slimes—

All fell before his blade.

No need to waste time where there were no hidden rewards.

Ding! Ding!

[First Clear Bonus – Floor 2]
[First Clear Bonus – Floor 3]
[First Clear Bonus – Floor 4]
[First Clear Bonus – Floor 5]

[+100 EXP]
[+100 EXP]
[+100 EXP]
[+100 EXP]

[Name: Kim Joon]
[Rank: S]
[Level: 3]
[Stat Points: 15]

In just 2 hours—

he reached Floor 5 alone.

Fwoooosh—

A breathtaking sight appeared.

A grand city surrounded by massive walls.

White marble buildings reaching skyward.

A huge temple at the center.

Thebes.

The first city of the Tower.

A place where hunters’ fates diverged.

Once glorious—

now a ruined tragedy where all residents were massacred.

In his previous life, countless hunters died here.

Step.

Step.

He walked toward the gate.

To overcome the past.

To seize the future.

“Let’s go.”

To reclaim his true power—

the hidden class:

Dragon Slayer.

The gears of fate began turning again.

This time—

to write a different ending.

At the intersection of regret and resolve—

Kim Joon stepped forward along the path only he knew.

“…Hoo.”

Toward hope.

Toward victory.

[Welcome to Thebes.]