Woong!
As his vision cleared, the landscape before him had completely changed.
It now resembled an old-fashioned oriental temple, surrounded by trees blazing with red autumn leaves.
This was the battlefield at the end of the 3rd floor, the main stage of the raid.
[A new challenger has appeared in the realm of the 'Heartless Army' on the 3rd floor.]
A status window appeared as he entered the boss room. Seeing it, he realized: it was finally time for the others to arrive.
'This is going to be hectic for the next few days.'
This raid required more than just numbers.
Step.
Jin-hyuk bowed slowly at the outskirts of the temple.
Before engaging, there was a task he needed to resolve first.
'After all, the autumn leaves here are the best in the Tower.'
He admired the view. The vast forest spanned tens of kilometers, undeniably beautiful.
But his eyes were not on the leaves.
'It has to be here…'
Jin-hyuk scanned the trees quickly. Among them stood a peculiar one—a human-faced tree. A giant tree with a carved human face.
It was a popular tree among players, featured often in the community.
As he approached—ṝ𝘼Νȯ𝔟Èș
['Useless Exploration Specialist' entered]
-UselessExplorationSpecialist: I came because I was bored. But what kind of person goes to a boss room that even large guilds couldn't conquer?
The first viewer had entered, but was only cursing at him.
-UselessExplorationSpecialist: Ha, this guy wears a mask too. Why are there so many like this these days? I'm leaving. Bye.
[The viewer has left.]
Hmm…
Masked characters were becoming more common, he noted.
It made sense. Attention was valuable for broadcasters. A player wearing a mask who had cleared the Corridor of the Fallen would naturally attract interest.
At that moment:
[BiscuitIsFuture entered]
[BaeksuOverTusu entered]
Two more viewers arrived. Their presence wasn't from veteran broadcasters.
-BiscuitIsFuture: Hmm… What is this? The stream appeared in related searches for the 3rd-floor broadcast.
-BaeksuOverTusu: I saw it too! Hehe, as expected!
-BiscuitIsFuture: Wow, first time seeing a solo challenger. Is he crazy? Doesn't he know a 100-man raid failed here?
-BaeksuOverTusu: If he's a lost young elk shaking his hips, I'll show him the exit.
A sarcastic conversation.
'Cute.'
Jin-hyuk smiled. The viewers' banter reminded him of his past as a BJ.
'Right. This is how broadcasting works.'
New viewers mocked inexperienced BJs, and then the BJ won them over by showing skills.
He looked forward to watching these people's attitudes change.
-BiscuitIsFuture: Uh? Maybe he hasn't noticed yet?
-BaeksuOverTusu: Some just try their luck. They treat challenges like lotteries.
-BiscuitIsFuture: But who doesn't watch Viewtube? Don't they know it's impossible if they've seen the other players?
The human-faced tree's quiz had three questions. Answer all correctly and receive a reward.
Occasionally, someone would get one right, but no one ever answered all three. Even exploration enthusiasts couldn't solve it. Until Jin-hyuk arrived.
Kukuku!
The human-faced tree turned to him.
"Kulkul. You are truly a unique human."
Its pumpkin-colored eyes stared, while an innocent-sounding voice emerged from its face.
"Did you come to solve my quiz?"
"Yes. Let me see the questions."
Shh!
Jin-hyuk sat on the soft fallen leaves by the tree, enjoying the comfort while picking his chin.
The tree shouted.
"W-what are you doing!"
"Uh?"
"How dare you be rude before me! If you irritate me, I'll give a question that cannot be solved!"
"Ah… this? I need to be comfortable to focus. Don't worry."
"Eik!"
-BaeksuOverTusu: Hahaha, I like this concept.
-BiscuitIsFuture: Never seen the tree get angry at players.
[PizzaSweetAndSourPork John Matteng entered]
-PizzaSweetAndSourPork John Matteng: What is this room?
-BaeksuOverTusu: Ah, a new viewer. Fun room.
-BiscuitIsFuture: Unique concept. Player has dual personality.
[SaeYoungEonHwan entered]
-BaeksuOverTusu: Welcome back.
-BiscuitIsFuture: Nice room. But what does your name mean?
-SaeYoungEonHwan: New Heroes Always Welcomed!
-PizzaSweetAndSourPork John Matteng: What kind of concept is that?
Gradually, viewers increased. A good start.
Above all, viewers stayed instead of leaving—a positive sign.
"Fine. Answer all three questions and I'll give you any number of maple leaves I have."
The human-faced tree calmed down, though its voice still trembled.
"You cannot change your mind later. Promise to give any number of leaves."
"On my honor as a tree spirit, I will keep my promise."
"Good. I will trust you."
"First question: optimum depth and temperature for the seawater species Kel'Gorn. No error allowed."
The Kel'Gorn lived in deep-sea reefs on the 7th floor.
-BaeksuOverTusu: Wow, insane. Depth and temperature?
-BiscuitIsFuture: Correct! Deep-dwelling.
-PizzaSweetAndSourPork John Matteng: Cold, maybe -5°C? Not sure.
-SaeYoungEonHwan: Wrong answers all around.
Jin-hyuk answered immediately:
"Depth 175, temperature 1.5°C."
'How many times have I dived there?'
He knew not just depth and temperature, but current flow changes.
The tree looked shocked.
"Next."
"I… haven't said you're right yet."
"If it's wrong, I wouldn't be silent. Think."
"…Fine. Second question: How to harvest Feliani's spongy body?"
"Use Salt of Sunshine Desert and Holy Water made by the priest who completed the 'Second Appetizer' quest. Cook the white tree from Winter Cave with firewood for five hours on low heat."
"…Correct again."
The tree stiffened. Jin-hyuk was breezing through its hardest questions. Only one remained.
"Final question: giant eagles of Sky Plateau mate once a year. Which month?"
-BaeksuOverTusu: Sky Plateau?
-BiscuitIsFuture: First time hearing.
-PizzaSweetAndSourPork John Matteng: The tree is making weird questions now?
-SaeYoungEonHwan: Nothing from Tower floors we know.
Sky Plateau was on the 15th floor, a place even famous players had never visited. No one should know.
Yet Jin-hyuk answered:
"November 17th, first snow."
"W-who… are you? How do you know this?!"
The human-faced tree's anger flared.
Kukuku!
Branches swayed, leaves flying.
"I'm no genius. I just wander the Tower."
"Do… not make me laugh. No human can answer all my questions."
"Stay calm. I'll tell you something unknown."
"Unknown?"
"You know giant eagles mate once a year. But if their population falls low after a special diet, they mate twice."
"Y-You mean that? What diet… uh! Ahem!"
The tree cleared its throat, but it was too late. The truth had slipped.
-BaeksuOverTusu: First time seeing someone break this quiz.
-BiscuitIsFuture: Incredible. This is genius-level.
-PizzaSweetAndSourPork John Matteng: Gods sent him to smash this place.
-BaeksuOverTusu: Admit it! Thanks to him, we can see the reward.
-SaeYoungEonHwan: What will he pick?
Passing the quiz allowed a choice of special maple leaves:
Red: boosts attack
Yellow: boosts defense
Green: boosts agility
-BiscuitIsFuture: Red, obviously. Attack first.
-SaeYoungEonHwan: Yellow for defense is better.
-BaeksuOverTusu: Agility matters most. Green leaves! Unknown hyung, enter a new world.
-SaeYoungEonHwan: Defense is man's pride!
The chat exploded. The moment would be remembered in the Hall of Fame.
"Now, tell me. What do you want from me?"
The tree asked. All viewers were focused.
The choice would affect the 3rd-floor boss fight.
But Jin-hyuk's reply stunned everyone:
"You hide the good leaves with trash ones. You have black ones, right? Give them to me."
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