Kim Hajun sat inside of a burrow, one barely large enough to accommodate his body while he was sitting or lying down. Near the entrance of the burrow, there was a hole in the ground with a few dry pieces of wood inside. Connected to that hole by a tiny tunnel to the side, there was another hole in the ground less than a foot away. It was a popular thod of building stealthy fires since the fire burned underground, releasing minimal smoke while remaining hidden from view.
Kim Hajun pointed his palm at the pile of tinder and exhaled while concentrating on his hand. Kim Hajuns face turned red as veins bulged on his neck; a second later, a small fire blood into existence, touching the dry wood. Kim Hajun held his breath and willed the fire to grow even bigger, burn even hotter. Thanks to the kindling, it didnt require as much mana. Kim Hajun drew his hand back and added so more twigs and sticks to the burning hole. He stripped off his shoes and planted his heels by the edge of the fire pit, letting the flas toast his damp feet.
Kim Hajun sighed as he took the socks out of his shoes and spread them out on a flat rock near the fire. With that, he didnt have much space left; other than his pack, there wasnt anything else in the burrow. Kim Hajun opened his bag and retrieved a cylindrical pot and a collapsible tal stand with a wire and hook attached to it. He set up the stand and hooked the pot onto it, suspending the pot over the fire. He tapped on the side of the pot, and water appeared at the bottom of the container, steadily filling the pot until it was half full. Then, he covered the pot before reaching into his bag and retrieving a bundle of fur. He placed it on the ground by his socks and exhaled while leaning back, looking out of the burrow. It was dark out, impossible for a regular person to see anything. However, Kim Hajun knew the darkness didnt affect the predators out there. Nightti was their day, the period they were most active.
In order to advance to the second floor, one had to survive for ninety days in a harsh environnt. It was difficult but not impossible; the tower didnt forbid people from forming groups before entering. It also wasnt unusual for people to hire wilderness guidespeople who deliberately dropped out of the advancent stage before it ended to remain eligible to take it again and againto help them get to the second floor. Only a fool would enter the stage by themselves, but it took a fool to discover the greatest secret of the first floor, and thanks to his prophetic dream, Kim Hajun knew all about it.
A whistling sound caught Kim Hajuns attention, and he took the lid off the pot. He unfurled the bundle of fur, revealing glistening, raw, sticky organs he had harvested from the wolverine he had killed earlier in the day. He unceremoniously dumped the organs into the pot, not worried about how theyd cook thanks to the preparations he had made while butchering the creature. It took a while for the at to cook, and it took even longer for Kim Hajun to eat his al. Once he was done, he took a cloak out of his bag and wrapped himself up while curling into the fetal position. It was too difficult to get anything done at night, so Kim Hajun called it a day and went to sleep.
***
Vur smacked his lips a few tis and rolled over. The snot bubble coming out of his nose collided against Ginger, the ant pupa lying on his pillow. There wasnt a popping sound; rather, it was closer to a glop as the pupas head sank into the snot bubble. A second later, the bubble popped and splattered, and Vurs eyes creaked open. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. As he did, the leaves that made up the wall of his room parted, and two won walked inside.
Did you sense us coming? Tafel asked, raising an eyebrow.
Vur lowered his arms and yawned again. He blinked at Tafel and Lindyss. Good morning, he said and scratched his armpit. Is it ti to go?
Yes, Tafel said and bead. The cache is ready now. If you need to store anything, just let know.
Vur scanned Tafel from head to toe. Sothing was missing. Wheres Garlic?
Tafels smile didnt waver. Hes in the cache.
Oh, Vur said. Okay.
You might not be curious, Stella said, her head popping out of Vurs chest, but I am! Why is Garlic in the cache?
Im giving him the new experience of being abandoned in an underground cache, Tafel said. You heard the caterpillar; he loves new experiences. Tafel tapped her chest with the tips of her five fingers on her right hand. Coincidentally, I happen to love peace and quiet, and my brain ca up with a brilliant idea to kill two birds with one stone.
Lindyss raised an eyebrow. You rembered to add air holes to your cache, right?
Tafel blinked, and her horns glowed silver. A portal appeared beside her, and she stuck her torso through.
Oh, hey! Youre back! Id like to
Tafel leaned back, her torso leaving the portal. Less than a second later, it winked out of existence. Yep, the demon said, nodding at Lindyss. Plenty of air holes. Garlics still alive and kicking. Tafel cleared her throat. So, what did you do while you were out there? Did it take you all day to issue a mission to find Mary?
No, that took five minutes, Lindyss said and rolled her eyes. I went out to do so research on the tower. People here are surprisingly cooperative when you ask them questions. I learned a lot.
Tafel tilted her head. Why didnt you just ask Deowi or Gaegukja Yeol?
And only have one source for my information? Lindyss asked. She snorted. Why dont I cut my head off and put it on a silver platter while Im at it? Its no wonder why Grimmy wanted to babysit you two.
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