Chapter 28: Seventh Floor, The Eerie Forest and the Mad Weretigers (5)

The forest no longer felt eerie. It exuded a vibrancy now that the mist was clearing. The weretiger’s intimidating presence had vanished, replaced by the cheerful chirping of unfamiliar birds and the harmonious sounds of insects. Even the once swampy ground had firmed up, providing solid footing beneath our feet. It was as if we had stumbled into a picturesque retreat.

What happened to the ominous forest we saw earlier? Was it an illusion this entire time?

The traces of mud still clinging to the backs of our legs suggested otherwise. Now that the forest had changed, they were one of the few remnants from our frantic escape. The entire situation was perplexing, almost as if a ghost had played a trick on us.

“Dad! Look at this little guy. Isn't it adorable?”

“Wow, it sure is cute. I’ve never seen a bird like this before. Guess we're not on Earth right now, huh?”

“Probably. It doesn't look like any species from Earth.”

Our party had changed noticeably as well. Seo Ha-Rin had been quite reserved but was much more talkative now. Clinging closely to her father's side, she held his large hand tightly and chatted incessantly.

“Unnie! There's something that looks like a rabbit over here!”

“Hmm, looks more like a big rat. Maybe a nutria?”

“

Eek!

A rat? Gross...”

Seo Ha-Rin grimaced and took a step back.

“

Krieee!

Goblin! Can Goblin eat it?”

Seo Ha-Rin wasn't just talking to her father, she was engaging with everyone. Seeing her so bright and energetic brought warm smiles to both Ha Hee-Jeong and me. Her cheerfulness was infectious, lifting the overall mood of our group.

It was heartening to witness such a lively atmosphere, especially considering how quiet our journey had been until now.

Previously, Seo Ho-Su and I had been conversing the most, often chatting about topics like fantasy novels and martial arts. They were discussions about heavenly demons and frontier lords, which didn’t interest the entire party.

Now, with Seo Ha-Rin's enthusiasm, everything felt much more dynamic and engaging.

This is nice.

Perhaps Seo Ha-Rin felt more comfortable with the group after pouring out her emotions, lessening any previous reservations. It was also possible she had deliberately chosen to embrace a more cheerful demeanor after nearly losing her father.

“Oh! What's this?”

“That looks like a poisonous mushroom.”

Regardless of the reason behind her change, it was undeniably a positive development.

Seizing a moment when everyone's attention was elsewhere, I leaned toward Ha Hee-Jeong and whispered.

“My share percentage is at twenty-one percent. Is that okay?”

“Twenty-one percent? So the pre-sponsorship penalty added twenty percent?”

Her eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Yeah, and the neutralizing agent was another one percent.”

“Twenty percent is quite a bit, but at your current level, it shouldn't be a major issue. You will get opportunities to reduce it later. We'll get more details in the waiting room anyway.”

We’ll get more details in the waiting room? So the sponsorship system becomes available after clearing the seventh floor?

I was eager to finally get an explanation of what it all meant.

“By the way, is the place we're heading to now another hidden mission?”

“No, it's not a hidden mission but a hidden area. Remember the one you found on the second floor? It's similar to that.”

“So, are we expecting another creature like Karaksh to pop out?”

She shook her head with a smile.

“No enemies this time. It's the Weretiger King’s lair. There's a sword there that's quite useful.”

A sword, huh? That would be perfect for Seo Ho-Su.

I preferred maces over swords, and since I already had a good weapon, Seo Ho-su could take this hidden prize.

“I am going to give that to Ho-Su. Do you think that would be fine?”

“Oh, yeah. Besides, we might not have found it without him. In my first life, we only stumbled upon it by chance after defeating the king.”

“Speaking of which, you managed to defeat the king in your last life too?”

“Yeah, but it was tough. Half of our party didn't make it. That's when I realized just how incredible your close combat skills were.”

Huh? That’s the first time she’s shared that with me. So I started to stand out on the seventh floor? Wait a minute, didn’t the seraphim swarm us on the sixth floor? I bet I was pretty good at killing all of them back then, too.

“You didn’t realize that on the sixth floor?"

“Nah, since you were a mage you just cast spells while protected, so it wasn’t as noticeable. And when the queen appeared, everyone was too busy running away."

Hmm. Well, the Seraphim Queen was stronger than the Weretiger King.

That reminded me that I had had some questions about the seventh floor. However, now that we had conquered it, Ha Hee-Jeong didn’t have to keep the information from me.

“So, what happens if a party chooses the sacrifice?"

“If we hadn't defeated the king, only one person out of the six would have been able to proceed.”

“Only one? That's brutal. Your entire party would be decimated.”

“The seventh floor is designed to be a trap. If you confront the king head-on from the beginning, it's not too difficult. Even with the other weretigers around, it's essentially a six-on-one fight.”

“So running away is the wrong move.”

“Exactly. In most cases, defeating the king after running costs about four party members’ lives.”

“Huh...” I muttered, contemplating the harsh reality of the tower.

“But don't get me wrong. Your decision wasn't incorrect. Running was a sensible choice if you didn’t know the king's strength. These situations are always a gamble.”

I nodded in agreement, acknowledging that the tower was an unpredictable entity. I had learned that back on the fourth floor. Ultimately, every choice was mine to make.

Although the approach we took wasn't the most straightforward method to clear the floor, the intense three-hour chase had significantly helped our party grow and become stronger.

If you sent me back to the start of the seventh floor, I would make the same choice.

“Oh, and I’ve been thinking about what weapon you should wield. You didn’t carry a shield in my previous life. Maybe that’s why your movement seems awkward to me since I’m so used to your old style.”

“I didn’t carry a shield?”

“No, you were more dynamic and aggressive with your attacks back then. I think it’s because you didn’t have the shield.”

Hmm, that made sense. My attack patterns were pretty straightforward and consistent now, all I did was block with the shield and then counterattack with the mace.

Ha Hee-Jeong continued with her suggestions cautiously.

“What if you tried fighting without the shield? I’m not saying you have to, but just consider it.”

Fighting without a shield, huh?

Now that I thought about it, I didn’t use a shield on the first floor either.

Was I more aggressive back then?

I was sure that was the case. My attacks had been more aggressive and I had mixed up my attack patterns.

Or maybe that was inevitable?

There had been no item with the same defensive capabilities as a shield on the first floor, so moving around more and seeking out advantageous positions had been my best choice.

They say the best defense is a strong offense.

Of course, using a shield had its advantages. I was already quite accustomed to it, and it provided a stable and consistent fighting strategy. On the other hand, it didn’t feel like my combat skills were improving. Block, swing, repeat. My attacks were starting to feel mechanical.

Sure, I could find ways to fight more dynamically even with the shield, but... maybe it wouldn’t hurt to try something different. I needed a push to be able to grow further. Not that I wasn’t already strong enough, but there was no harm in getting stronger to handle whatever challenges I would face climbing the tower.

Without the shield, I could sharpen my offense skills even more.

“The last time you climbed the tower, you said I used a wand, right?”

“Yeah, but not just a wand. You also wielded a one-handed axe, a sword, and a mace. You know you can hold more than one weapon at once, right? You have two hands for a reason.”

“So I didn’t stick to one weapon?”

“Not really. You said each weapon had its own feel, but... hmm.”

“So out of all the weapons I used, do you think the staff was the best fit for me?”

My question startled Ha Hee-Jeong and she looked at me.

Why is she so surprised? I am not talking about a magic wand, but rather something like a metal rod, a staff-like weapon.

“Oh no, don’t even think about it,” she warned.

It seemed that me as a mage in her first life had traumatized her.

“You did crack some heads with a staff, but you mainly used other weapons.”

That was a bit disappointing. I thought that the staff paired with the Lightning Essence would allow me to live out my fantasy as a mage... Sadly, when I manipulated lightning now, it didn’t quite feel the same.

There was no staff, no chanting of spells. Maybe someday I would get to try it out.

Suddenly, Ha Hee-Jeong’s eyes widened.

“Oh, an axe! I think you used an axe the most. You switched weapons frequently, but on the ninety-fourth floor, you used an axe.”

“An axe?”

“Yeah, you also used a staff. But whenever you used the axe, you always felt like something was missing. You didn’t feel that way with other weapons.”

“Well, I guess I could give it a try. Maybe I felt that way with the staff also?"

I strolled along, chatting quietly with Ha Hee-Jeong. Suddenly, excited voices broke out from the front of our group.

“We're almost there... Oh, oh! There it is! We found it!"

“It definitely looks like a tiger's lair.”

“It does, but why does it smell so bad in there? Isn't this supposed to be the Weretiger King’s home?"

Seo Ho-Su looked puzzled as he sniffed the air.

“I'm not sure. I don't smell anything.”

Something felt off. Seo Ho-Su had inherited the Weretiger King's blood, and this was supposed to be the king's lair.

So why is he the only one who found the smell unpleasant when the rest of us didn't notice anything at all?

“Let's go inside.”

We cautiously entered the dark cave. Since there was no natural light, Ha Hee-Jeong conjured a small flame that cast flickering shadows on the walls. The cave was cool and damp, but otherwise unremarkable.

After walking a few meters, we entered a small chamber.

“Hmm? What's that?"

My gaze was drawn to a sword stuck in the ground at the center of the chamber. Its handle was red, with black stripes like a tiger's markings, but aside from that, it didn't seem all that different from any other sword.

[Weretiger King's Longsword]

- A sword the Weretiger King intended to use as a human.

- Reveals its true power when wielded by the Weretiger King.

A notification window popped up, and Ha Hee-Jeong let out a small sigh.

“Oh..."

“What's wrong?"

I turned around with a puzzled look, and Ha Hee-Jeong leaned in and whispered softly to me.

“It's meant for the Weretiger King. I completely forgot about that.”

“The Weretiger King? Oh!"

It suddenly clicked that Seo Ho-Su had inherited the Weretiger King's blood. This sword would show its true power in his hands.

I wasn’t surprised Ha Hee-Jeong hadn't remembered this since it happened a long time ago for her. There was no way she could recall every little detail of her previous life.

“Dad! It says the sword reveals its true power when used by the Weretiger King!"

“Well, I guess that makes sense... Haha."

Seo Ho-Su replied with a sheepish smile and glanced at me. Since I was the party leader, it seemed he wanted my approval.

I had planned to give him the sword anyway, and I wasn’t bothered by him asking for my permission. In fact, it made me feel a bit proud.

“It looks like the perfect weapon for you, Ho-Su.”

“Heh, you think so?"

“Absolutely. I don't use swords, and Cole uses a bow."

“I agree. I think it's best if you use it, Ho-Su."

“Thank you, everyone."

Seo Ho-Su grinned as he drew the sword from the ground. For a moment, a faint red aura flickered around the blade before fading away.

Did anyone else see that?

It happened so quickly that no one seemed to have noticed. I couldn’t have imagined it; it was probably because the sword was revealing its true power.

“Why don't we rest for a while? The weretigers aren't around anymore.”

“I'm down. I'd like to explore the forest a bit more.”

“What about you, Su-Hyeok and Hee-Jeong?"

“I think it's a good idea.”

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

We had secured the sword Ha Hee-Jeong mentioned, and there was still some time left before the floor ended. Exploring this picturesque forest wasn't a bad idea. The forest was one of the most peaceful sights we had encountered since entering the tower.

Seo Ho-Su swung the sword through the air, a look of awe on his face, when he suddenly stopped. He sniffed the air, his expression shifting.

“Wait a minute. The smell... it's not coming from here, is it?"

“What do you mean?"

Without responding, Seo Ho-Su continued sniffing. His nose twitched in a distinctly tiger-like way. He moved slowly toward a corner of the cave. He tapped the wall a few times before turning to us.

“Here it is!"

He then pushed aside a massive boulder that had been blocking part of the wall.

Was that rock always there?

I hadn't even noticed it until he moved it. It was clearly heavy, but Seo Ho-Su managed to shift it just enough to reveal another small chamber behind it.

What’s going on?

I had thought the hidden area only contained the sword. I looked over at Ha Hee-Jeong, and she seemed just as baffled.

“I’m sure there was nothing here before. I checked every corner when we found the hidden area in my past life.”

What is happening? Could it be that Seo Ho-Su’s status as the new Weretiger King revealed this?

It seemed likely. Maybe only the Weretiger King could access this chamber.

“Shall we go in?"

We cautiously entered the newly revealed chamber, which was small—about 13 square meters. At its center, a strange symbol was drawn on the floor. It was a hexagram that looked like something a sorcerer might use. Inside the symbol lay a human skull, a round pill-like object, and a double-headed axe.

[Bear King's Gallbladder]

- Vomited by the Bear King when it became human.

- Contains the strength of the Bear King.

[Bear King's Double-Headed Axe]

- A double-headed axe the Bear King intended to use as a human.

- Steeped in the Bear King's lingering grudge.

A tiger? A bear? This sounds like the myth of Dangun

[1]

!

“Are these... our ancestors?"

“No," Ha Hee-Jeong replied firmly.

But this clearly resembles the myth of Dangun! How does the Tower even know about that?

“Do you think Earth is the only planet with myths like this?"

“Well, no... but still..."

It was hard to dismiss the uncanny resemblance, even if the myth of Dangun was just an allegory for tribal alliances.

Despite Ha Hee-Jeong’s denial, my suspicions refused to go away. Seo Ha-Rin and Seo Ho-Su were also looking at us with puzzled expressions.

Finally, Ha Hee-Jeong sighed and added, “Besides, it’s not even the same as the myth of Dangun. The Bear King was trapped and died, and the Weretiger King went mad. It seems like the Weretiger King ran out and prevented the Bear King from escaping, so in its anger, the Bear King cursed the forest."

“Even so, it’s too similar."

“Then, do you think we really fought in the middle of Seoul on the sixth floor? The tower could have just created the floor based on our knowledge."

“What are you even talking about?"

Cole asked, completely lost, not knowing anything about the myth of Dangun.

Should I explain it to him?

“Cole, there’s a Korean myth about a hero named Dangun..."

Seo Ho-Su took over and explained it. After he kindly laid it out, Cole nodded in understanding. Seeing this, Ha Hee-Jeong sighed and turned toward the hexagram, muttering something under her breath.

“―――.”

Once she finished her muttering, the hexagram slowly faded away before disappearing.

She had mentioned that the Bear King had cursed the forest. Was this hexagram the curse, and if so, did she just lift it? Somehow, I had expected that Ha Hee-Jeong would do this.

“I’m going to give the Bear King’s Gallbladder and double-headed axe two[2] to Su-Hyeok. Is that alright with everyone? Ok, let's spend the rest of our time exploring the forest.”

***

[Time remaining: 0 minutes 00 seconds. Congratulations. Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has conquered the seventh floor of the Tower of Ordeal: the Eerie Forest. Achievement points will be calculated.]

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has defeated the Weretiger King, discovered the hidden area 'Weretiger King's Lair,' and discovered the hidden area 'The Tiger and the Bear.' Achievement points will be calculated.]

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has been awarded 2,750 achievement points. Total achievement points: 46,798. He will now enter the waiting room.]

1. The myth of Dangun is a key story in Korean culture that explains the origin of the Korean people and their first kingdom, Gojoseon. In the myth, Hwanung, the son of a heavenly god, comes down to Earth and sets up a sacred city. A bear and a tiger ask Hwanung to turn them into humans. He gives them a test: they have to stay in a cave for 100 days, eating only garlic and mugwort. The tiger gives up, but the bear succeeds and becomes a woman. This bear-woman, Ungnyeo, later marries Hwanung. Later, their son, Dangun Wanggeom, goes on to found the kingdom of Gojoseon. Dangun is considered the legendary first king of Korea, and the story is a big part of Korean identity and pride. ☜

2. Bear King's Gallbladder and double-headed axe ☜