“So, you are not a human from the Tower?” Eun-Young asked the blonde man still tied to the metal pole.

“I am an American.” He answered without any problems.

From her angle, she could see the pendant with a cross hanging out of his dirtied white shirt. No doubt this man was from Earth. However, another point seemed to have more importance to her.

“How can you speak Korean better than Do-Yun, an actual Korean?” She couldn’t wrap her head around it.

“There’s nothin’ wrong with the way I talk.” Do-Yun pouted.

The last time he spoke Korean was years ago, he had no one to talk to so he needed more time to naturalize it. Though, he too became curious about this guy’s reason.

“I learned it years ago so I could talk with my in-laws about marrying my wife in their language.” He said.

“Oh! Aren’t ya cool.” Do-Yun patted his back with a smile, but the man showed no reaction.

“…Are you joking?” Eun-Young frowned at his monotonous tone. There was no way he was serious.

“No,” He said matching her gaze.

‘He isn’t lying, but I can’t get a read on this guy… It feels like there is nothing there.’ For the first time, Eun-young found herself stumped. Her skill didn’t work on him. With Do-Yun at least she could understand some things, but here? Nothing.

“Dude, I got this question that I want to ask you. If you answer I’ll answer one of your questions.” Do-Yun asked.

“Ask away.” The man said.

“You are strong, right? Why did you let those Orcs capture you without putting up a resistance?” Do-Yun noticed the clothes of this man. A plain white shirt, black pants, and some heavy-duty shoes. No such thing as equipment in hand or any defensive items on his body.

This man walked into a Tower with just this? The reason was his strength, even if he hid it well Do-Yun could tell his level with the minuscule amount of Magic energy that leaked from his body. This guy was an Awakened with red eyes. How could an S rank be caught by two Orcs that were barely C rank even if he lacked combat experience? And this guy didn’t lack that.

‘There is no need for him to answer. Even if he does answer, I don’t think I can trust his words.’ Eun-Young didn’t stop Do-Yun. Using her skill again, she tried to learn more about this guy.

“I just didn’t see a point in resisting. Also, they said they needed food so… yeah. That is it.” He said.

“Did you just offer yourself as food without resistance?!” Eun-Young shouted before Do-Yun could speak.

“Yes.” Again, he didn’t lie.

“What’s your name?” Do-Yun asked dropping the previous conversation.

“Ethan Fray.”

“Join our team, Ethan.” Eun-Young’s eyes widened.

She didn’t believe this would end well. This guy gave himself up as food of his own will. What type of other things will this guy do just cause? And why would Do-Yun even invite him to the team? However, she didn’t have to say a word.

“No thanks, you look like a troublesome superior that drags their subordinates around by their neck,” Ethan said and saw Eun-Young nod.

“I am gonna keep pestering you till you agree.” Do-Yun threatened.

“That sounds troublesome too, I guess I’ll join you.” Ethan sighed.

‘Are these two for real?’ Eun-Young’s face twitched. She couldn’t understand either of them, but one thing she knew was that her stance regarding Ethan wouldn’t change.

He sounded like a problem and he’d bring nothing but problems. However, Do-Yun agreed and she couldn’t help but think there may be a reason he did this. Giving him the benefit of the doubt would make sense with what he had done so far, but her gut told her otherwise.

‘Yeah, this won’t work. That guy’s bad news.’ As Eun-Young was gathering her points, Ethan and Do-Yun seemed to continue their meandering conversation that led nowhere.

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However, there was one issue.

“Umm… how about we untie him for start?” Byung-Ho suggested with a wry smile.

Eun-Young coughed, it had slipped her mind. She became too focused on her thoughts and didn’t pay attention to this part.

“You guys finally noticed,” Ethan said with a dry voice.

“I thought you were into it so I didn’t bother,” Do-Yun said untying the ropes.

“I am not into pain and torture.” Ethan blinked getting to his feet.

“Says the one who gave himself up as food to the monsters,” Eun-Young countered.

“…”

“Say something.” She demanded.

“Arguing against a good point is pointless.” He said making her sigh in frustration.

That was how Ethan Fray joined their party. They continued their march down the dirt road in search of their target. These orcs came from the east where another road led deep into the forest just like the one they used, it joined their road and the orcs were progressing down this path. So, they walked forward without any trouble.

Now walking for hours, the forest around them didn’t change much. The trees and plants on the roadside remained the same just as Do-Yun’s habit of eating them. Eun-Young didn’t bother speaking to him, her eyes focused on Ethan who walked in front of her. However, even with her obvious gaze, he walked in silence unperturbed.

An hour later under the orange glow of the setting sun, they came to a stop. Entering the forest they walked to the small clearing near the road. There Do-Yun took out two tents and other equipment from his inventory.

“We are camping this close to the road?” Eun-Young asked. The beasts used this road from what they had seen, so they could become an easy-to-spot target with the fire.

“It is better this way. Even if they attack we’ll keep watch and know that this road will lead us to their hideout. Now, Ethan help me set up the other tent.” Do-Yun unpacked the tents as Ethan moved at a slow pace. He looked like a child who got forced into doing chores.

With this, it was decided that they’d spend the night here instead of continuing. He asked them to pack all the necessities in advance, tents, sleeping bags, lighters, firewood, and rations. In no time the tents were erected by Do-Yun and Ethan as Eun-Young started the fire to heat the cold food.

They shared the food with Ethan as they had enough for four people. Do-Yun said he was full which didn’t come as a surprise. He had munched his way through this march, even gathering edible fruits and plants along the way. Eun-Young and Byung-ho also took note of this, they gathered themselves and their food stock continued to increase.

For now, they didn’t have to worry about the food at all.

After the meal the sky turned dark and the only light that remained came from the bonfire in the middle of the two tents. If nothing happened they’d decide the paring and hit the sack.

“Ethan you can understand Beast language correct?” That was until Do-Yun broke into the topic the others wanted to talk about.

It had been on their mind since they heard it this afternoon, but till now the two hadn’t asked. However, Do-Yun didn’t have any reservations like them. If he wanted to know something, he’d ask it on the spot.

“Yes, I have an A rank Language Interpretation skill. Also, I am a ranged damage dealer.” Ethan said.

“…Are you sure you should be revealing that?” Eun-Young couldn’t help but comment. Revealing one's skill with people he met a few hours ago wasn’t wise. Normal people would lie about it. But, he didn’t.

“It is pointless to hide it.” He said.

Eun-Young decided to shut her mouth at this point. On the bright side, she knew the reason Do-Yun brought this troublesome guy along. The ability to converse with Monsters. Sure they wouldn’t reach peace with them, but this could help them in other ways. And this guy said he was a ranged damage dealer, they lacked those too.

As the conversation concluded Do-Yun proposed rock, paper, scissors to determine which pair keeps watch first. Needless to say, he lost and had to watch over the perimeter with Byung-Ho. However, unlike his partner Do-Yun sat by the bonfire using his sensing abilities to keep an eye around.

‘A single day in the Tower and I have already got profits.’ Do-Yun’s poison resistance leveled up at an appropriate pace just like Regeneration.

By the end of this Tower raid, he’d reach a level where normal wounds wouldn’t faze him. Then he could up his training regime to another level and repeat the cycle with more lethal poisons. But this wasn’t all.

His eyes went to the metal pole beside him. The one Ethan was tied on. Clutching it Do-Yun sent a wisp of Aura through the two-meter-long pole. The white energy clung to the pole’s surface in a dull glow and it shook in a low hum.

‘This feels like Doctian metal mixed with red iron… Not too shabby. It doesn’t have the best compatibility with Aura, but it is better than nothing.’ Do-Yun stopped the supply of energy and yawned.

Most of the things he had seen on this floor were things he knew of already. The only difference came from the pink apples that turned salty instead of their honey-like sweetness. This however did raise several questions in his head.

Do-Yun had heard about the first floor of the Tower of the previous world in great detail. He knew the ones who raided it and had worked alongside them for years. And there were no similarities between the two places. It was a rule that two Towers couldn’t be identical. Here he was seeing the repeat of ingredients he had seen before. But, he was sure that such a world wasn’t part of the Tower he raided.

‘With the angel statues in place, this world’s end is near.’ With this only one logical answer remained.

“Did that feathered bastard really mean it about the resource limit?” Do-Yun muttered as the wood crackled within the fire.

It had been a long time since he had that conversation, so he only remembered bits of it now. But, most of it still sounded like gibberish to him.

“Well, it doesn’t matter to me whatever is limited.” That was because he didn’t care.

Lying on the floor he looked at the night sky through the canopy of trees. Unlike the empty sky of Seoul, here hundreds of stars lined up the sky in their glittering glory.

A view like this was rare to come by, so he decided to enjoy it at that moment.