The More the Healer Gets Hit the Stronger He Become

31 – The Administrator of the Tower…?

[Orc Lord Leather Coat]

[A coat made of sturdy orc lord leather boasting outstanding defense. However, there is a high likelihood that it won’t withstand attacks from higher-ranking orc lord monsters. / Stamina +1]

Kangwoo, contemplating in the safe zone on the 19th floor, couldn’t afford this armor due to a lack of points.

Manipulating the shop to buy the Orc Lord Leather Coat, Kangwoo smirked as he glanced at the button that appeared in the upper right corner.

[VIP Shop Shortcut]

“Huh? Was there something like this?”

Though he had explored the shop many times, it was the first time he learned about the VIP shop.

“I’ve never heard of this even from Seung-ah….”

Perplexed, Kangwoo spotted a small note beneath and widened his eyes.

[Entrance only available with 20,000 or more points]

‘There’s an entrance cutscene??’

For a moment, Kangwoo was lost in thought before he engaged his brain.

The reward for completing the trial on the 21st floor was 1,200 points, and the total monster defeat points were 8,825. Assuming the maximum number of participants, 10, the monster defeat points per person would be 882.5 points.

Rounding it off, if we consider a normal team of 10 members clearing the 21st floor, each awakened individual would receive a meager 2,083 points.

2,083 points. The clear reward for the 21st floor is 2,083 points.

Considering that the clear reward for challenging the 11th floor in a party was 1,215 points, it was hard to imagine significant changes in the rewards for clearing the 30th or 40th floor.

From Noble mtl dot com

But there was a VIP shop that could only be accessed with over 20,000 points.

“… Most awakened individuals might not even have it?”

Who would be crazy enough to save up 20,000 points without using them to upgrade their gear whenever possible?

The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like a ridiculous system. However, Kangwoo’s eyes sparkled like a child who had found candy as he looked at the VIP shop button.

“hehehe, a category no one knows about….”

Whether the system was ridiculous or not, it didn’t matter. To Kangwoo, who had already discovered the existence of the VIP shop, it was a story that didn’t concern him!

With an excited heart, Kangwoo clicked the button.

[Your request to use the VIP shop has been submitted, Mr. Choi Kangwoo.]

Thump, thump.

Indeed, what items would be available in the VIP shop?

It was the moment when Kangwoo was about to witness the dazzling display of beautiful items in the VIP shop.

[Moving to the VIP shop will begin.]

“What…?”

Suddenly moving?

Whether it understood Kangwoo’s bewildered feelings or not, a bright light emanating from the shop window began to engulf Kangwoo.

Flash!

When the dazzling light that had filled the tent gradually subsided,

It was after Kangwoo’s figure vanished without a trace.

***

The sensation was similar to when he crossed the portal to challenge the trial.

As the bright light enveloping his entire body began to fade, it was when Kangwoo anxiously scanned his surroundings.

“Hoo-ung. No, Captain. What will happen if you go like that? The remaining people… Ku-huk. What should the remaining people dooooo – Hoo-ung-“

“…?”

This was undoubtedly the tower. Familiar BGM echoed in his ears.

“Isn’t this Descendants of the Moon OST…?”

Am I dreaming?

Strange scenes entered Kangwoo’s bewildered eyes.

In front of him, a woman, dressed in military uniform, lay comfortably on an 8-seater leather sofa that exuded a plush feeling just by looking at it. She was crying while watching Descendants of the Moon on a 100-inch wall-mounted TV.

Right in front of the woman, Kangwoo quietly reached a conclusion as he discovered empty cup ramen bowls piled up like a mountain on the luxurious marble table.

“It’s a dream.”

Although it was strange that he suddenly fell asleep while pressing the VIP store shortcut button, the fact that there was a woman in military uniform watching Descendants of the Moon on the tower felt more realistic than anything else.

As Kangwoo raised his fist to wake up from the dream, the woman, who seemed surprised only now, stared at Kangwoo with wide-open eyes.

“The dream is quite realistic.”

As Kangwoo frowned, the woman spoke.

“Have you watched Descendants of the Moon?!”

The vocal cords reverberated so loudly that even the bones cried out.

“…Can bones cry out in a dream?”

Kangwoo, deep in contemplation, smacked his head with a clenched fist.

Thunk!

“Ahhhhh-!!”

He only tapped lightly, but it felt like his skull might shatter.

So, this is the strength of level 42 muscular power.

Seated, Kangwoo writhed in pain, and a girl approached him.

“Did you see it? Descendants of the Moon? Did you see it? It’s real!”

It wasn’t a dream.

Then, who could this girl be?

“…Yes, I saw it.”

Back in middle school, during the winter final exams when the school turned into a playground.

It was a drama he discovered because of a drama fanatic in his class.

“I thought he was crazy searching for dramas that were over 20 years old….”

To think such a person would be in the tower.

“Wow. Amazing! Nice to meet you!! Isn’t that drama really fun?!”

Suddenly, the girl grabbed both of Kangwoo’s hands and bounced around in excitement.

“As expected! I knew it would be a masterpiece even for the owner of the prophecy!”

“The owner of the prophecy…?”

“Ah! Now, allow me to greet you. I am Milena, the owner of the VIP Shop and the manager in charge of the Tower.”

“…What?”

Overwhelmed with information, Kangwoo took a step back.

The fact that such a place existed within the Tower, the unbelievable revelation that someone was watching Korean dramas from here, and on top of that, the owner of the VIP shop and the manager of the Tower?

Most of all,

“There’s a manager in the Tower…?”

“Oh! The owner of the prophecy probably didn’t know. I haven’t appeared in my role as a manager before.”

Kangwoo’s eyes scrutinized Milena, who claimed to be the Tower’s manager, from top to bottom.

The military uniform she wore, identical to what the protagonist, a major, wore in ‘Descendants of the Moon,’ was damp with tears.

Her hair was loosely tied in one, with stray strands sticking out here and there, and there were remnants of ramen broth on her lips that she hadn’t wiped off.

‘This woman is the manager of the Tower…?’

Even though she looked like someone my age?

Was Kangwoo’s continued suspicion noticed?

Milena shyly smiled and spun around in her place.

“How about dressing like this for a change as a manager?”

“!!”

Even though it unfolded right before his eyes, he didn’t register it.

In the blink of an eye, Milena’s attire transformed from the tear-soaked military uniform into a neat suit.

Kangwoo, who noticed the tidy hair and the absence of ramen broth stains, nodded slowly.

Witnessing the unfolding of multiple magic layers like flowing water, there was no reason to deny it any further.

“Indeed. Earthlings gain trust in someone dressed like this?”

‘… I didn’t trust her because of that.’

Melena, who seemed oblivious to Kangwoo’s inner thoughts, looked satisfied with her suit and flicked her fingers.

“Well then, shall we go to the store?”

With Melena’s casual gesture,

In an instant, the comfortable living room disappeared, and a vast space with items neatly displayed unfolded.

Kangwoo, unable to hide his astonishment at the magical space that left his mouth agape, expressed his curiosity.

“XX Department Store…?”

“You do recognize it! It used to be a bit Asperger-esque, but I’ve renewed it to fit this world!”

“Asperger-esque…?”

Somewhere, it sounded familiar. Asperger. Asperger. Kangwoo soon found the answer.

“Asper’s Fiery Fist?!”

Why is Asper showing up here?

More shocking than seeing Melena watching a drama, more than knowing there’s a manager at the top, hearing the word Asper from her was more surprising.

How many shocks have I received today alone?

As Kangwoo exclaimed in disbelief, Melena, with widened eyes, nodded her head.

“Yes. It’s Asper’s Fiery Fist that I address. It’s precisely the name in the dimension I live in.”

‘Asper’s Fiery Fist in Yeongdeungpo? What was that about?’

But how does she know about that?

‘Ah, she said she’s the manager of the Tower.’

The impact of the first impression was so strong that I momentarily forgot about it.

In the face of unexpected gains, Kangwoo’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

For reasons unknown, there was a friendly tone, a gleam in the eyes, and even a casual demeanor that revealed everything when asked.

There couldn’t have been a better opportunity to satisfy curiosity. Kangwoo threw a question he couldn’t resolve without asking anyone.

“Asper’s Flame Fist…”

“I apologize.”

He was rejected before even finishing the question.

Frustrated, Kangwoo stiffened at the chilly sensation brushing against his skin.

“I cannot speak of questions that exceed the permissible limit anymore. Even if you claim to be the owner of prophecy.”

“…!”

An icy, firm voice.

Meeting Milena’s indifferent eyes, Kangwoo unconsciously took a step back.

An indescribable, intimidating pressure warned him not to cross the line any further.

“…Who on earth is the Flame Fist?”

In the eerie disappearance after taking a step back, Kangwoo swallowed hard as if facing a lie.

“An administrator is an administrator.”

Even though he had surely adjusted the strength, its magnitude was immeasurable.

Indeed, where was the line that the administrator warned not to cross?

There was no intention to waste this opportunity for a Q&A with the administrator.

After a brief contemplation, Kangwoo cautiously circumvented the question.

“… So, what does it mean to be the owner of the prophecy?”

It seemed like Kang Woo had given up asking about Asper’s Fiery Fist. Milena, erasing the expression that was as cold as a lie, brightly smiled and opened her mouth.

“You already know about Asper’s Fiery Fist, right? The fact that you, Choi Kang Woo, are the one to prevent the Earth’s destruction!”

“….”

“The one who discovered that fact was Asper’s great prophet! That’s why I respectfully referred to you as the owner of the prophecy, as the only hope to prevent the destruction of the Earth!”

With a proud expression, Milena spoke, and after a short while, Kang Woo, who had been silently listening to the story, spoke up.

“So, summarizing the story, the administrator…”

“Feel free to call me Milena!”

“Yes, Milena. Came from a different dimension… Is that Asper person from the same dimension too?”

“Well… um… yes?”

“Is Asper close to Earth?”

“Oh… no? The owner of the prophecy is in a dimension much farther than what anyone could imagine.”

“… In that case.”

At this moment, for some reason, the interrogation scene of a detective from a drama came to mind.

It was when Milena made a puzzled expression during the ongoing question and answer.

“Why would those who were in such a distant dimension bother to try to prevent the destruction of Earth?”

“… Huh?”

Blink, blink.

Time seemed to stand still. Milena’s body stiffened like a statue.

It was the moment when Milena, unexpectedly pierced by a question from an unexpected direction, tried to conceal her bewilderment and recreate the same chilly voice as before.

“Oh. Was this, by any chance, a question that exceeded the permissible limit? Even the owner of the prophecy can’t hear it?”

Oh no. The player was taken away.

Faced with Kangwoo’s resolute expression that he would hear the answer to this question no matter what, Milena forced an awkward laugh.

“Uh… um… Kangwoo, you currently have… 22,205 points, right?”

“As for the current situation…”

“20,000 points are the minimum points for VIP access, but it would be wise to gather more than 50,000 points to purchase decent items. If you have only 20,000 points, there are no items you can buy. But if you’re asking if you can’t buy anything at all, I can assure you that’s not the case! Our VIP shop is offering a groundbreaking event for first-time customers—a ‘Intermediate Item Random Box’ for only 20,000 points.”

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

Mechanically applauding Milena made Kangwoo realize that something was wrong.

“Wait a moment…!”

“To purchase at cost, you need 50,000 points, so I really want to emphasize that it’s a bargain. Then, of course, you’ll purchase it, and I believe you’ll gather more than 50,000 points for your next visit! From the second entry onwards, an entrance fee of 5,000 points will be deducted, so please keep that in mind! Well, that’s Milena from the VIP shop. Goodbye!”

“No, wait! Just a moment-!!”

Milena, smiling brightly, began to fade away while briskly shaking both hands.

In the space filled with bright light, Kangwoo shouted.

“Manager- Hey! You-!!”

“Goodbye!!”

From Noble mtl dot com

After the light disappeared.

What came into Kangwoo’s sight was the familiar scene inside the tent and, within it, a randomly dropped 20,000-point box.