Chapter 63: The Mine Association (1)
Chapter 63: The Mine Association (1)
The nights at the Tower of Trials were something special.
The warmth from the day would plunge rapidly, and the ferocity and strength of the monsters soared significantly.
Thus, when night fell, most players stopped hunting and sought out safe havens.
It was a matter of course—there was no need to take unnecessary risks.
About an hour after Jinhyuk had dealt with Cheonsugwan-eum, he managed to find himself a spot in front of a temple surrounded by thick bamboo forests.
'Brings back old times.'
Besides sleeping or broadcasting, most of his time was spent here at the [Tower of Trials].
After an insane hunting session, he always sought out a place with a view of the night sky.
It wasn't a bad place to take a rest.
Especially here, where you could see meteor showers pouring down.
'The thrill of obtaining materials you can only find in the Tower or amongst the bamboo is also quite fascinating.'
Jinhyuk lit a fire, then filled a bamboo tube with bamboo shoots, rice, and rock salt to boil. He added three Ironclad Shrimps that could be caught in the valley.
Almost immediately, a delicious fragrance assaulted his nostrils.
Gurgle.
His appetite stirred.
He scooped up a spoonful and put it into his mouth. The soft, warm soup slid down his throat.
Here and there, the firm flesh of the shrimps provided a fantastic texture.
Ah, this is the taste.
'Next time, I'll have to copy some cooking skills as well.'
All kinds of delicacies overflowed as you climbed the Tower—
Desert calf meat that was so juicy it needed no olive oil, rainbow crabs that could be found in the sea, Thousand Apples rumored to possess a thousand scents.
These ingredients couldn't be tasted outside the Tower.
It was truly a treasure trove of heavenly culinary ingredients.
But just as Jinhyuk was about to enjoy his rare feast.
"What a wonderful smell."
"It looks like a rather appetizing meal."
A man and a woman emerged from between the bamboo trees.
A seductive Western beauty and a sturdy-built Asian man.
They were Melena and Lichao.
"Oh! We mean no harm. We just saw the light and thought we'd come over."
"Just looking for a place to ward off the evening chill is enough."
Melena and Lichao approached the bonfire casually.
What are these guys planning... are they pretending to be regular players rather than from the Mine Association?
Are they serious?
'Astonishing.'
It's beyond words when it comes to such astonishing stupidity. Or else...
Either they already have a means to defeat once exposed.
It must be one or the other.
Hopefully, it's the latter.
That way, this long night won't be so tediously spent.
"I can at least offer you warmth from the cold, so please, take a seat."
Jinhyuk gestured to one side of the fire.
"Thanks. I'm Melena."
"I'm Lichao. Then, we'll just intrude for a few hours."
Melena and Lichao each took a spot.
At the very least, their claim of wanting to avoid the dew seemed true, as they hurriedly tried to warm their half-frozen arms and legs.
"You seem to have had a difficult time."
"Don't get me started. You wouldn't know since the guy in the mask is clueless, but imagine shivering all day up in the tree?"
Right, it must have been tough.
They must have suffered, spying on us like rats the entire time.
"I've made quite a lot of food, how about it? Would you like some?"
Jinhyuk offered them a bamboo bowl.
The well-fed shrimp and pearly rice stood out invitingly.
Don't hesitate.
I know that hunger is gnawing at you, that your belly's probably stuck to your spine.
"......"
Melena gulped down saliva.
Conflict was evident on her face.
But she didn't immediately reach for the food.
Suspicious.
Who knows what he might have done to the food? Yet, driven by a powerful instinct for hunger, her pupils flickered several times in that brief moment.
Lichao, on the other hand, drew a clear line.
"We're fine. Sorry, but we have a principle not to touch food given by strangers. Especially if that person is behind a mask."
"You're bothered by the mask?"
"Isn't that obvious? If there's nothing to hide, there's no need for a mask."
"Hm. If it really bothers you that much, I can take it off."
"......What?"
"......Really?"
At Jinhyuk's words, the pupils of both individuals dilated rapidly.
A moment ago, they were still trying to uncover his identity, but now he was offering to reveal himself willingly, which naturally elicited such a reaction.
"Of course, it would be boring to just take it off, so let's play a simple game."
"A game?"
"Since we both seem to have questions, we'll take turns asking three questions each. If you answer all my questions, I'll remove my mask as soon as the game is over."
A game to exchange information each had.
Lichao's mind raced.
'There's no way to verify the truth of the words anyway.'
It implies that it doesn't matter if they feed false information.
Meanwhile, the opponent, who doesn't know their identity, will likely be off-guard.
'There's nothing to lose by accepting that proposition.'
Melena, beside him, nodded in agreement, whispering softly.
"We still have about 5 minutes before the artifact activates. If we can just buy that time, it will work in our favor."
The decision didn't take long.
"......Sounds interesting. It could be a decent way to pass the time."
Lichao spoke up.
And at that moment.
['Judgment of Anubis' is activated!]
Transparent waves spread around Jinhyuk.
***
...Caught in the act.
Jinhyuk gave a meaningful smile.
In ...