Ha Gangwoo unclenched his fist and scratched his cheek.

‘Did I… kill him…?’

He hadn’t meant to kill.

Just to shut him up. But to die from a single punch…

‘I need to be careful…’

He was flustered.

Sure, people said you couldn’t die in the Tower, but committing murder outside would be a huge problem.

Ha Gangwoo scraped the back of his head roughly and grimaced.

‘He’s not waiting for me outside, is he…’

The thought crept in: Would Choi Jangbok swear revenge?

The odds were high.

They were on the 3rd floor.

He didn’t know how many floors were left, but there were definitely still systems he hadn’t unlocked yet.

And he’d basically cost that bastard that chance.

‘If it were me… I’d wait.’

Get kicked out of the Tower on the 3rd floor? Yeah, he’d be sharpening his blade outside, vowing revenge.

The thought had already crossed Gangwoo’s mind, so there’s no way a nasty piece of work like Choi Jangbok wouldn’t feel the same.

‘Ah, screw it.’

Ha Gangwoo shook his head.

Because he was confident he could win even if a whole gang of guys like Choi Jangbok came at him. And he had no doubt he’d be even stronger by the time the Tutorial ended.

Deciding to forget about Choi Jangbok, Ha Gangwoo pulled a Lowest-Grade HP Potion from his Inventory.

“You alright?”

Ha Gangwoo held the potion out to Jo Seunghyun, who was sitting dazed on the ground.

Jo Seunghyun hadn’t been a huge help, but Gangwoo knew how hard what that man had done was.

The crowd of over a hundred people who’d been watching him and Choi Jangbok—none of them had stepped in.

They’d just enjoyed watching him get beaten up.

Helping someone else isn’t easy.

Ha Gangwoo knew that all too well.

Up until this morning, when he’d literally put a noose around his own neck, not a single person had reached out a hand to him.

So how could he ignore someone who’d extended a hand to him for nothing in return?

Jo Seunghyun couldn’t make sense of what was happening.

‘What the hell? Did he just… retire that guy…? Who is this person…?’

Jo Seunghyun stared at Ha Gangwoo with his swollen face. The player he’d fought just now was definitely at least C-Rank—no, definitely B-Rank or higher in terms of Trait.

And this guy had put him down in a single blow…

He was curious about the identity of the man calmly offering him a potion.

***

“Whoa, did he just kill him??”

“Looks like it?? What the hell’s wrong with these lunatics on the 3rd floor already? Let’s get away from him, he’s crazy. Fucking crazy.”

The crowd that had been watching the fight between Ha Gangwoo and Choi Jangbok put distance between themselves and Gangwoo.

The curses that had been aimed at Choi Jangbok were now somehow directed at Ha Gangwoo.

That made sense — the Third Floor was designed for parties.

Even if he hadn’t actually killed anyone, what just happened in front of them was no different from murder. Not many people would want to party with a killer.

‘Interesting~’

‘Whoa~! He’s crazy strong — if I butter him up right, I might even get a carry??’

But not everyone was afraid of Ha Gangwoo.

A few who recognized his true caliber licked their lips.

“Hoooh… I can breathe again. Hello! My name is Jo Seunghyun!!”

Jo Seunghyun downed his Potion in one gulp, then sprang to his feet and thrust out a hand for a handshake.

“I’m Ha Gangwoo.”

Gangwoo accepted the handshake with good cheer.

He’d been racking his brains over how to find party members, and now it looked like he’d just found one.

“How did you do that just now?”

Seunghyun asked as he stowed his sword in his Inventory.

‘Hmm…’

Gangwoo’s brow furrowed.

‘So he’s bothered by it after all…’

He’d beaten a man to death in front of over a hundred people. And he’d caught the whispers, so he knew how the crowd saw him now.

Was Jo Seunghyun unhappy about having a murderer as a party member too? That’s why he was pressing for the details of what happened.

“I hit his face with Straight Punch. And this is the result.”

Gangwoo shrugged as he spoke. It looked like he’d blown it. Even he would feel uneasy about partying with a killer, let alone anyone else.

This floor’s Quest demanded he form a party of at least four members, no matter what. But things were going sour.

Did he have to wait until someone who didn’t know about this showed up?

‘I don’t have time for this…’

His head ached. As if he didn’t already have so little time.

“Whoa~! That’s amazing~!!!”

‘Uh… huh?!’

Jo Seunghyun’s eyes sparkled as he grabbed both of Gangwoo’s hands tightly. It was like he’d just met a celebrity.

‘He killed people, and he calls that amazing??’

In an instant, Seunghyun’s whole demeanor shifted.

His eyes shining, he spoke.

“Can I ask how old you are??”

“Twenty-three.”

“Oh?!!! Then you’re older than me, hyung-nim!! Feel free to speak casually!!!”

“Uh?!! Ah… sure.”

He was surprisingly personable.

‘What a relief.’

If so, the flow wasn’t bad. With that level of friendliness, he’d probably find party members on his own!!

Gangwoo was already thinking of Jo Seunghyun as his party member.

Gangwoo asked Seunghyun about the Tower — his curiosities.

How many floors there were, this floor’s Dungeon, and how the final Player rankings were calculated.

“You really don’t know?? They teach all this at the academies.”

Jo Seunghyun tilted his head, then answered in meticulous detail, one by one.

“The Fifth Floor is the end. For the Third Floor we’re on now, you form a four-person party to challenge the Dungeon.”

Seunghyun stretched out his index finger, pointing straight ahead.

“You see that over there??”

Jo Seunghyun pointed at a circular magic circle glowing with light. Looking closer, an alphabet letter was inscribed in its center.

“Rank…?” He muttered.

Ha Gangwoo’s quiet murmur caught Jo Seunghyun’s ear, and he picked up the thread.

“That’s right! The rank is set by the alphabet letter. Everyone decides which rank to challenge beforehand at their academy or guild! Sometimes they even pre-organize their parties!!”

“Alright, so how is the final player grade determined?”

He’d cut straight to the most crucial point.

After all, he needed at least a C-Rank to cover his sister’s storage maintenance fees.

“Ah! That… it’s not entirely clear, but I’ve heard the scores on the 3rd and 5th floors are the most important. The 1st and 2nd floors are too easy, right?”

“Yeah.”

He had to admit it — floors one and two were laughably easy. The Goblins had popped like balloons in a single hit, hadn’t they?

“So on the 3rd floor…”

Just as Ha Gangwoo was about to ask more, Jo Seunghyun drifted away.

“Ah! One moment! Looks like my guildmates are all gathered.”

“Uh?! Oh…”

Damn. Rotten luck. He already had a party…

As Ha Gangwoo slumped, Jo Seunghyun came running back, like he had something else to say.

“Running into each other like this must be fate…”

‘No way!!’

Was he about to offer a party invite? Hope flickered in that brief moment.

“Could we meet outside? Could you give me your phone number?”

‘…’

He was dumbfounded.

It was the first time anyone had ever asked for his number. The bitter kicker? His first time was with a guy.

Ha Gangwoo forced a wry smile and said,

“I don’t have a phone number. If it’s fate, we’ll meet again. Later.”

Hadn’t he thrown away his phone this morning? No number to give.

Ha Gangwoo raised his right hand in a wave and turned on his heel.

“Ah!! Wait — hold on…”

Jo Seunghyun watched Ha Gangwoo’s retreating back, his face scrunching up.

“I wanted to party with you… He must already have party members.”

Well, it made sense — this was the Player who’d one-shotted a B-Rank Trait holder!!

He must be someone trained in some guild’s elite program.

‘They always say elites come to the Tower without learning anything about it… it’s true.’

Jo Seunghyun’s eyes lit up.

There was a reason basic school curriculums didn’t include Tutorial training.

That reason was — to build adaptability!!

The biggest difference between the first-generation Players and the new generation was exactly that: adaptability.

The pioneers who’d carved their own path knowing nothing, and the latecomers of the new generation following behind — of course adaptability would differ. The latecomers only retrace the pioneers’ footsteps.

That’s why rumor had it that Players on the elite track deliberately ascended the Tower without learning a thing.

All to boost their adaptability by walking the same road as the first generation!!

“I can’t believe I’m seeing one in person~!!! He must be an S-Rank Trait holder, right?? So freakin’ cool!!”

Jo Seunghyun strode off, already looking forward to the day he’d meet Ha Gangwoo again.

***

Ha Gangwoo scowled and stared at the Dungeon.

The S etched into the heart of the blue magic circle.

Not a single Player stood before it. Even if your life wasn’t on the line, the moment you died, you’d lose the System forever.

Everyone chose safety over risk, so the S-rank Dungeon entrance stood empty.

‘Hmm…’

Ha Gangwoo felt a pang of regret. He’d wanted to challenge the highest rank, after all.

[Ha Gangwoo]

Level: 11

HP: 810/810

MP: 60/60

Strength: 68(+10)

Agility: 50(+35)

Vitality: 51(+30)

Mana: 50(+10)

Sense: 20(+10)

Luck: 20(+10)

These insane Stats — already sky-high, then boosted by another 10 each from the Gray Leather Armor set.

And hadn’t he just confirmed it? One single punch, and Choi Jangbok was gone.

On top of that, an E-rank Skill and an E-rank Artifact — the Mana-Imbued Pistol.

If only he had party members willing to join him, he’d take on S-rank right now.

Ha Gangwoo crossed his arms and pondered.

‘What should I do? I’d rather gather decent people…’

Jo Seunghyun would have been perfect. A shame. Ha Gangwoo could tell because his Sense stat let him gauge a Player’s level to some extent.

Seunghyun’s strength wasn’t bad. If he hadn’t let his guard down against Choi Jangbok, he would have won easily.

“Hello there~”

Two women approached Ha Gangwoo as he pondered.

Gangwoo tilted his head, studying them. They had the unmistakable look of college girls, but their hair and clothes were soaked in blood.

When Gangwoo’s gaze met theirs, they flinched, looking slightly startled, but they pressed on.

“We saw you fighting just now. You’re really strong — wanna party up with us? We’re heading to an E-rank Dungeon.”

“Hmm…”

Gangwoo fell into thought.

It wasn’t bad that he could enter a Dungeon right away. Time was tight anyway, and no matter who came along, they wouldn’t be much help to him.

But one thing still nagged at him.

‘E-rank, though… that’s a bit…’

Ha Gangwoo’s goal was a C-Rank Player. According to Jo Seunghyun, you needed at least C-Rank to even step into this Dungeon and hope to face a C-Rank Player.

‘Should I just ask…’

If he proposed C-Rank, it would be like telling them to risk their lives. That’s why he couldn’t bring it up easily.

As Ha Gangwoo’s answer dragged on, the women stared at him with growing unease.

“What’s wrong? You already in a Party? Aww~ don’t overthink it, if you’re free, join us… *pout*…”

The woman who’d been lisping to lure Ha Gangwoo suddenly froze, her eyes locking onto something.

“Uh… Uhm.!! I’m so sorry. We’ve got something urgent. Ha. Ha. Ha. Hey! Let’s go.”

“What?! Why the sudden change?? You were the one trying to get us a carry!!!”

The woman who’d been lisping abruptly turned to leave.

‘Why’d she do that all of a sudden?’

The moment the question surfaced in Ha Gangwoo’s mind, a tap-tap-tap came on his shoulder.

“Hello there—are you looking for a party?”

A clear voice rang out, and Gangwoo shifted his gaze to its source.

‘…’

A woman stood there: long straight hair, a cross tattoo beneath her right eye, and an elusive aura that clashed with her youthful face.

“Yes. I am.”

“Lucky us. We’ve got one spot open. Would you like to join?”

‘Hmm…’

Gangwoo’s eyes narrowed.

‘There’s something off here…’

The energy radiating from this woman was anything but ordinary.

‘She’s stronger than Choi Jangbok.’

He sensed it—faint, but unmistakable. She felt more formidable than Jangbok.

Which meant the offer wasn’t bad at all.

“May I ask what rank you’re challenging?”

“A-Rank.”

A smile spread across Ha Gangwoo’s lips.

‘Good.’

Not S-Rank, but A-Rank—a solid tier.

“Alright.”

He accepted.

The woman crinkled her eyes in a crescent smile, then covered her mouth with a fist.

“Great. Let me introduce the rest of the team. Follow me.”

A chill crawled up his spine!

Something felt eerie, but Gangwoo followed her toward where the party was waiting.

Meanwhile.

“Hey! What’s gotten into you?!”

“Come on—quick! Didn’t you just see?!”

The woman who’d been wagging her tail around Gangwoo grabbed her friend’s wrist and hurried along.

“See what?? What happened?!”

When her friend kept pressing, she stopped, visibly irritated, and snapped back.

“That was Lee Ayeon!!! You don’t know Lee Ayeon?!”

“Lee… Ayeon??? Ah!!!”

The friend flinched at the name Lee Ayeon. Just the name made her tremble, her face twisted in fear.

Who was Lee Ayeon, to inspire such terror?

***

“Ah—fuck!!! Why the hell aren’t those bastards here yet?!”

Kang Seongbin bellowed in front of the A-Rank dungeon.

The reason for his fury: two players from the same Association—who’d agreed to meet him earlier—still hadn’t shown.

For a full hour! Seongbin, short on patience, was on the verge of exploding.

“And those morons think they can clear an A-Rank?!”

Seongbin was an S-Rank Trait holder. The two no-shows? An A-Rank and a B-Rank Trait holder.

Low-Grade Trait holders keeping him waiting—it infuriated him.

“Hey—let’s just grab anyone and go in.”

Seongbin scowled as he spoke to Chae Seohyun.

Seohyun remained unruffled, arms folded, eyes closed in silence.

“Ignoring me again?! Answer me! Why the hell should I wait over an hour in a place like this?! With just you and me, an A-Rank is no problem, right?!”

Chae Seohyun was also an S-Rank Trait holder. And a healing-type—rare as they come.

Kang Seongbin was certain of it: with Chae Seohyun on board, he could clear an A-Rank floor without those two deadweights hanging around. Easily.

“You wait here!”

He shoved himself out of his seat and stalked off. If he waited any longer, the moment he laid eyes on those two bastards, he’d kill them on the spot.

Just then, Chae Seohyun slowly opened her eyes and spoke.

“They’ll be here soon. Let’s wait.”

“Wait, my ass!”

“We’re here~!”

As if brushing off Seongbin’s outburst, Lee Ayeon raised her hand with a bright wave, a sly grin curling on her face.

“Where do you get off running your mouth?! You wanna die?! And where’s the other bastard?!”

Crack!

A vein bulged across Seongbin’s forehead. Despite all that waiting, one of them was still missing.

Ayeon clasped her hands together and bowed her head meekly.

“Ah~! Sorry, boss~! We ran into a little problem~! Mr. Choi Jangbok got retired.”

“What? Retired? Dead? On the second floor?!”

“Nope. On the third floor—by this guy~!”

Lee Ayeon, still wearing that infuriating smile, pushed a man forward.

Shoved out from behind her, the man stepped into view. It was none other than Ha Gangwoo.

“What? Jangbok got killed by this punk?!”

Seongbin’s brow twitched nastily as he fixed his glare on Gangwoo’s face.

A single bead of sweat rolled down Gangwoo’s cheek.

‘Hm… Looks like I came to the wrong place…’

Gangwoo had ended up in the party Choi Jangbok was supposed to join by pure chance.